SHAMOKIN - A room considered one of the crown jewels of the new Kallaway Center for the Arts has been named for two longtime supporters of the arts in Shamokin.

The former living room is now the Joseph and Sara Hall Room.

With its floor-to-ceiling French doors that open out onto European-style balconies overlooking the creek, plush carpeting and large fireplace, the room is warm, bright and inviting - the perfect place to paint or play piano.

Garth Hall, chairman of the Northumberland County Council for the Arts and Humanities, made a $10,000 donation to bring his parents' names to the room.

Shared love

Joseph Hall dropped out of Shamokin High School in 1927 to help support his family, but returned three years later and graduated in 1932. After re-enrolling in school, he became involved with numerous arts clubs, including the glee and dramatic clubs. He performed in seven plays and served as editor-in-chief of the 1932 Review Year Book.

In 1932, Joseph worked with fellow students to paint a portrait of George Washington. The painting remains on display in the former Shamokin High School Auditorium.

Sara Leah (Wiest) Hall graduated from Shamokin High School in 1922. An accomplished academic, Sara was the first student in the history of Shamokin High School alumni to receive valedictorian and English awards, which were then $10 and $5 respectively. She also participated in high school plays and was on the Review Year Book staff.

Sara graduated from Indiana State Teacher College in 1924 and returned to her alma mater as a teacher from 1925 thru 1935. She married Joseph in 1935 and had to resign her position because married women were not eligible to teach following the Great Depression of 1929. She returned as a teacher from 1942 to 1945 during World War II, and resign once again when the men of armed forces returned to their teaching positions. Sara was faculty adviser and director of many of the dramatic club plays.

Family art

From 1932 to 1936, Sara organized and directed the "Little Theatre Players" performing at Shamokin and Coal Township high schools for the benefit of worthy community causes such as the Y.W.C.A. and the Red Cross.

In 1949, an offshoot of the former "Little Theatre" group was organized by several staff members of the community radio station WISL and local talent, including Joseph and their sons Bruce and Garth, participated in weekly plays for the greater Shamokin area.

Sara passed away in May 1981. In 2006, a Sara Leah Wiest Hall Memorial fund for Performing Arts was established at Shamokin Area High School.

Joseph died in January 1992.

Garth credits his parents for his good upbringing, one of the reasons he wanted to name the room in their honor.

"I had wonderful parents," he said. "I was lucky."

He said his parents wove their love of the arts into his life from the earliest age.

"My dad and mother had me out tap dancing when I was young," he said.

With the new Joseph and Sara Hall Room at the Kallaway Center, the spirit of Garth's parents will live on with a new generation of children.

CATAWISSA RR - All representatives of the Southern Columbia Area school board will be elected at-large beginning next year.

Columbia County Judge Gary Norton issued an order Oct. 3 approving the school district's petition to modify its electoral structure from a region-based system to at-large seats for the 2015 election. The petition was filed Sept. 25.

A seven-person majority of the eight members currently on the school board sought the change. They cited difficulties operating without a ninth member, a potential tie-breaking position for votes. The proposal came on the recommendation of the board's policy committee.

The ruling allows board directors to fill the existing vacancy with an at-large appointment, meaning any qualified Southern Columbia resident from any region of the district can apply. Superintendent Paul Caputo made the announcement Saturday on the district's website. Letters of application and resumes from interested candidates are due at the district office by Oct. 31.

The petition was uncontested in court.

"We filed the petition and the court approved it, so it was a very simple process," board solicitor Rich Roberts said Monday.

The district's electoral structure was last modified in 2012, establishing the election of three at-large candidates and two each from three regions: Region I, Ralpho Township; Region II, Catawissa Borough and Catawissa Township; Region III, Cleveland, Franklin, Locust and Roaring Creek townships. Prior to that, three representatives were elected from each region.

The current vacancy is in Region II where, according to the district's petition, there has been one vacancy since December 2001. Another position had been vacant for two years prior to a board appointment at the start of 2014.

Southern Columbia is located in both Columbia and Northumberland counties. Since the majority of its land is in Columbia County, the petition was filed there according to state law.

When school districts in Pennsylvania merged in the 1960s, many had elections by region. By the early 1970s, some districts, including Shamokin Area and Mount Carmel Area, switched to at-large voting. Line Mountain has retained a regional structure.

'Stewards of Children' workshop set

TREVORTON - Susquehanna Community Foundations of Berwick is providing a free workshop from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4, in the Line Mountain Elementary School library.

The presentation is called "Darkness to Light Stewards of Children" and will provide facts about child abuse and practical guidance for preventing and responding to abuse. Free food and refreshments will be available.

The presenters will show a video that integrates commentary from sexual abuse survivors, experts in the field, and other concerned adults.

Registration is required and seating is limited to 25 participants. To sign up, call 1-866-454-6692. Do not call the school.

Boscov's 'helping friends' today

Boscov's will host Friends Helping Friends, a community fundraising event, from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. today in all 43 of its stores. In 2014, Friends Helping Friends raised more than $600,000 for charitable organizations in communities where Boscov's stores are located.

Community service agencies and schools throughout the community have been invited to participate in this benefit shopping day. Boscov's has provided participating groups and organizations with discount shopping passes, which they have been selling for the past few months. Each shopping pass is $5 and good for 25 percent off their purchases today (minimal exclusions do apply and are listed on the ticket). Organizations selling the shopping passes keep the entire $5 ticket price.

On Friends Helping Friends Day, shoppers can enjoy savings, refreshments, entertainment, demonstrations and samplings, Boscov's reports. Also, everyone with a shopping pass has a chance to a door prize, including a $500 Boscov's shopping spree on a corporate level as well as a $100 Boscov's shopping spree at each store.

Several participating groups will be providing volunteers to help throughout the stores selling shopping passes, providing entertainment or helping with refreshments and demonstrations.

DANVILLE - Two Northumberland County nurses are among 26 finalists for the Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania, which annually honor the state's top nurses.

Winners will be announced during the organization's 25th Annual Gala on Friday, Oct. 24, at the Radisson-Penn Harris in Camp Hill.

Janet Hoffman, of Riverside, is a licensed practical nurse in the Geisinger Medical Center and the Justin Drive Building hemodialysis clinics. She is a finalist in the Clinical Practice LPN category.

Susan Hallick, of Elysburg, is executive vice president and system chief nursing officer for Geisinger Health System. She is a finalist in the Nursing Administration-Executive/CNO category.

There were nearly 100 nurses nominated across the state.

"The fact that two Geisinger nurses are among 26 finalists from across the state speaks volumes about the dedication nurses here at Geisinger - from leadership to RNs to LPNs - apply to their craft on a daily basis," Dr. Glenn D. Steele Jr., president and chief executive officer at Geisinger Health System, wrote in a press release. "Nurses remain at the core of our mission to 'Make it the best.' It is their commitment to quality, compassionate care that cascades throughout our organization and is reflected in the care patients receive at Geisinger."

Employed by Geisinger since 1975, Hoffman was an LPN in GMC's rehabilitation unit for her first 20 years before moving to the hemodialysis clinic for the past 19 years. She is a certified hemodialysis provider by the Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing Technology (BONENT), and serves in the clinical enhancement position for the hemodialysis clinics.

Hoffman was the recipient of one of Geisinger's nursing excellence award for LPNs earlier this year and is a past GMC "Employee of the Month."

Hallick has been employed by Geisinger since 1983, first as a staff nurse in psychiatric and medical/surgical nursing. She was eventually promoted to vice president of nursing at GMC in August 2000, where she became responsible for nursing professional standards and patient care in the system's North Central Region. Her role was expanded in July 2001 to chief administrative officer, GMC and system chief nursing officer. She now leads the nursing clinical enterprise and integrates best practice nursing standards across the system.

Under Hallick's leadership, GMC has twice earned designation as a Magnet hospital by The American Nurses Credentialing Center. Magnet institutions must satisfy a demanding set of criteria measuring the strength and quality of nursing and patient care outcomes to earn designation.

An adjunct faculty member of Thomas Jefferson University, Hallick actively participates in events through the Pennsylvania Organization of Nurse Leaders, the Hospital and Healthcare Association of Pennsylvania and the Nightingales of Pennsylvania.

DANVILLE - A Mount Carmel man has filed a lawsuit against Geisinger Medical Center, a clinic and an anesthesiogist after he lost three teeth during neck surgery.

Todd Gerace, 39, was supposed to be intubated with fiber optics, but Dr. Stephen J. Minnich, who adminstered anesthesia to Gerace during the Febuary 2012 procedure, said he could do without it. Previous attempts of surgery determined Gerace was difficult to intubate, according to The Bloomsburg Press Enterprise.

According to the lawsuit, "one or more teeth were accidentally avulsed by anesthesia personnel," the paper reported Monday.

Gerace was seen by Geisinger dental personnel, and two more teeth were removed to make room for a denture. He had to wait seven months so his mouth could heal enough to be fitted for the denture, according to the newspaper.

He is suing for an unspecified amount of money and seeks a jury trial, the paper reported.

BURNSIDE - A new policy at the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (AOAA) will be sure to please local hunters.

Authority members voted unanimously Monday to adopt a new hunting policy that permits walk-on hunting from dawn to dusk on days the park is not open for motorized use and from dawn to 9 a.m. on days when motorized users are allowed in the park.

The times will allow patrons to continue riding while accomodating hunters who have fought to keep the county-owned property available for their use.

The policy goes into effect immediately and lasts until the conclusion of the deer archery season as determined by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, which is mid-January.

The new policy also stipulates the park will close for motorized use for the first two weeks of rifle deer season, except on Sundays when hunting is not permitted by the state.

This means the park will be closed to motorized users Dec. 5, 6, 12 and 13 to allow hunters to be on the premise from dawn until dusk.

Hunters are "walk-on" only, which means they will have to park along an adjacent road, such as Route 125, or along the cul-de-sac that leads into the park, unless Operations Director Dave Porzi decides otherwise.

Preventing dumping

Frank Kaleta, the only member of the public to attend meetings and comment on the hunting policy during this year's decision making process, questioned the decision to only allow walk-on hunting.

Jim Backes, authority chairman, explained the authority felt keeping vehicles off the property without Porzi or another person providing security was necessary to prevent dumping.

Porzi said that he was "leaning toward" allowing hunters to drive about a mile onto the property to a designated parking area through a construction gate at 3 a.m. at least one day, but his decision is not yet definite.

Kaleta also asked if hunters who bagged a large animal would be given help in bringing it to their vehicle. Porzi answered that if he was at the trailhead when this occurred, the hunter could call him and he would "be glad to help."

'Hunting only' land

A debate over the future of the area locally known as the Enterprise site sprang up prior to the vote.

Authority member David Crowl opened the discussion after seconding Pat Mack's motion to approve the policy. He said he would like to amend the policy prior to the vote to include a previously discussed designation of the Enterprise site as a hunting-only area that would be open while motorized use occurred elsewhere on the property.

In response, authority member Barry Yorwarth raised concerns over adding a section to the policy with the land labelled as "the Enterprise site" or its former name "the Alaska site" because the boundaries of such a designation is not specific enough.

"I want to find the exact area on the map with points," said Yorwarth.

While concurring with Crowl that a year-round area for hunting should be established, Backes raised concerns over adding such a location to this year's hunting policy. His concerns included the distance a hunter would have to walk from available parking to reach the Enterprise site, the overgrowth currently present on the site, the lack of animals - because they have not been stocked and the land has not been maintained to attract animals - and the lack of boundary markings.

Crowl also brought up a desire to incorporate different rules for gobbler season, which does not begin until May 2.

The authority decided to continue working on the policy to accommodate a year-round area and gobbler season rules and planned to amend the current policy following the conclusion of rifle deer season.

The updated hunting policy is available at the AOAA trailhead and will be added to the AOAA's website, www.anthraciteadventure.com, in the coming days.

MOUNT CARMEL - The owner of a collapsed building on Kulpmont's main street has been issued 80 citations in the last six months for failing to clear the resulting debris.

Thomas Valeiko, of Commack, N.Y., is expected in district court today for a summary trial on 20 of the citations filed by Kulpmont code officer Russ Moroz.

He faces combined fines of $50,000 for alleged repeated violations at 1263 Chestnut St.

Citations have been filed against Valeiko at the office of Magisterial District Judge Hugh A. Jones in batches of 20 - one for each day of a 20-day period - on June 16, Aug. 29, Sept. 19. The fourth batch was filed Friday.

Valeiko's building collapsed Feb. 21, the second floor of the two-story cinder block structure largely falling into itself. A box truck parked nearby was smashed. It was partially demolished by the borough under emergency because of the danger it presented to neighboring properties. The rubble is left in a large pile on the lot. Moroz alleges a crew hired by Valeiko sifted through it for scrap, but says the property owner has made no effort to have the lot cleared.

A summary trial on Aug. 28 ended with Valeiko found guilty by Jones on the first 20 citations. It could have went differently for Valeiko had he complied with the judge's previous order on July 22. Jones had given Valeiko 20 days to develop an action plan to have the debris cleared by Sept. 30. Instead, the judge said Valeiko negotiated in bad faith.

Valeiko has since appealed the guilty verdicts to Northumberland County's Court of Common Pleas, and a hearing is scheduled for Nov. 6.

He is due again in district court for a summary trial on Nov. 13 for the third batch of outstanding citations. A court date hasn't been set for the latest batch.

Valeiko previously waived to county court a misdemeanor charge of public nuisances filed by Moroz. He is scheduled to enter a plea on Nov. 24, and is represented by Mount Carmel attorney Richard Feudale.

SUNBURY - Two men accused of cooking methamphetamine in the basement of a Coal Township home were scheduled to enter guilty pleas Monday, but chose a pre-trial conference next month instead.

Roger J. Shaw, 42, and Thomas Michael Reddinger, 31, both tenants of 1012 W. Spruce St., Coal Township, were ordered by Northumberland County Judge Charles Saylor to appear for the conference Nov. 7 after declining offers by the district attorney's office to accept a plea agreement. They can still enter pleas at the conference or face trials.

Shaw, who is represented by county public defender John Broda, is charged by Coal Township Detective Jeff Brennan and Shamokin Cpl. Jarrod Scandle with possession of liquid ammonia gas, methamphetamine production, operating a methamphetamine laboratory, four counts of manufacturing with children under the age of 18 in the home, four counts of causing or risking a catastrophe, criminal conspiracy to produce methamphetamine and manufacturing with intent to deliver a controlled substance.

Reddinger is charged by Shamokin Cpl. Bryan Primerano and Coal Township Patrolman Joshua Wynn with possession of liquid ammonia gas, methamphetamine production, operating a methamphetamine laboratory, four counts of manufacturing with children under the age of 18 in the home, four counts of causing or risking a catastrophe, criminal conspiracy to produce methamphetamine and manufacturing with intent to deliver a controlled substance.

Reddinger, who was represented by county special conflicts counsel Sue Schwartz, also is charged by Primerano with manufacturing methamphetamine, possessing precursors and chemicals related to manufacturing methamphetamine, possessing methamphetamine with the intent to sell, operating a methamphetamine lab and illegal dumping of methamphetamine waste.

Schwartz asked the judge for a continuance for her client because she said a problem developed with the commonwealth's original plea offer that needs to be renegotiated. After Saylor conferred with Schwartz and assistant district attorney Michael Toomey, Reddinger chose a pre-trial conference.

Back in NCP

Both defendants were remanded to Northumberland County Prison, where they have been incarcerated since their arrest in early August.

Police said a confidential informant tipped them off after being asked by Reddinger to purchase materials used to cook meth, including cold packs and lighter fluid. The informant, who met Reddinger at 1012 W. Spruce St. Aug. 4, later told police the drug had been manufactured in Reddinger's basement.

A search warrant was obtained and officers from Coal Township, Shamokin and Northumberland County Adult Probation entered Reddinger's home at about 8:40 p.m. Aug. 4. An adult female, identified in the warrant as April Stahl, and children ages 8, 10, 11 and 13 were on the first floor while Reddinger and Shaw were in the basement.

Employees from Northumberland County Children and Youth Services were brought on scene to help with the children. The home was evacuated and the 1000 block of West Spruce Street was closed to traffic. Reddinger and Shaw were decontaminated at the scene.

According to police, a witness showed police July 29 a location in a wooded area just south of South Market Street where methamphetamine was allegedly manufactured by Reddinger.

At the site was a campfire with lithium batteries, coffee filters and waste and paraphernalia related to manufacturing methamphetamine. A hut was situated nearby.

Police also found a plastic soda bottle containing methamphetamine residue at the site.

On Aug. 4, Reddinger admitted in an interview with police he used three outdoor locations to manufacture methamphetamine, including the site near South Market Street.

In addition to the multiple felony drug-related offenses, Reddinger owes $32,734.43 in child support.

MOUNT CARMEL - The Mount Carmel Borough Council approved the following items on Thursday on a 6-0 vote with Councilman Gary Hixson Jr. arriving after the vote:

- Advertising the sale of two buses from the Lower Anthracite Transit System. The 2003 Thomas Built buses and no longer function property and will be sold for parts or scrap.

- Advertising an amendment to the landlord ordinance.

- Executing the agreement and release of the 1974 Sewer Revenue Bonds. Council president Tony Matulewicz explained at the Oct. 13 Committee of the Whole meeting that a mistake made in 1989 tied up $51,000, which the borough will now receive.

- Advertising the open position in the Mount Carmel Borough Sewer Department. The position is held by Samuel Cimino, who has submitted a letter of resignation effective Nov. 4.

Belgian beer is a state of mind-a Zen-like land where there are no rules, just good beer. There is unfettered freedom for brewers to create as they please, which has spawned hundreds-perhaps thousands-of sub styles; infinite variations on a theme. Their beers are the antithesis of their neighbor Germany, whose beers are world-class, but locked into inflexible pigeon holes.

I vividly remember my first Belgian beer-a Chimay Blue. Nearly twenty years later, I'm still trying to describe the indescribable spicy, funky flavors that aren't attainable in any other types of beer, all owing to those crazy Belgian yeasts.

I was thrilled when the Brewery Ommegang opened in 1997, near Cooperstown, New York. Belgian beer had finally come to America, ironically to the home of one of our country's most iconic institutions-the Baseball Hall of Fame. The brewery, which mimics a traditional Belgian farmhouse, was built on the site of a former 136-acre hop farm, near the origin of the Susquehanna River's northern branch.

Although it's over 3,600 miles from Belgium, Ommegang has the same mystical savoir faire of the Old World breweries. The brewery shuns traditional silo-like, sealed cylindrical fermenters to brew its beer in open vessels resembling indoor swimming pools. Billowing clouds of yeast float on top of the fermenting beer and spill over the sides. Any ingredient is fair game: sugar, syrups, spices, fruit, etc…

Much has changed since my last visit to Ommegang. It's not a secret anymore. The brewery expanded and joined the Duvel Moortgat family, which includes the legendary Duvel, Liefmans, and Maredsous breweries, among others. They also opened a café, which serves Belgian specialties, such as crêpes, stews, ice cream, waffles, and their specialty: moules and frites (mussels and fries).

Every summer, Ommegang hosts an annual Belgium Comes to Cooperstown festival. The festival, which started in 1999, has grown from a small affair to include over 50 breweries and 2,500 attendees. Tickets go on sale in April and sell out almost immediately.

Ommegang's beers used to be among my favorites, but because of so many new breweries and beers, it had been a while since I'd sampled their wares. It turns out they are as good as ever; they were just patiently waiting for me, like an old friend. Hope you enjoy the selections as much as Karol and I did. Cheers!

Abbey Ale: Abbey Ale is a dubble (pronounced either "do-bell" or "double"). It pours a caramel mahogany color with a thick, highly carbonated tan head. The aromas are a mix of caramel, dark fruit, and spice. The flavors of dates, toffee, and chocolate-with hints of licorice and anise-reveal themselves as the ale warms. Drink this at about 50°F, from a Trappist chalice to capture all the flavors and aromas. I'm a purist about not putting spices in a dubble, but there are no rules with Belgian beer. Anything goes. Abbey Ale is dry overall, yet there's a luxurious sherry-like sweetness at the finish. Like many dubbels, it's strong at 8.2% alcohol. Be careful out there. It pairs wonderfully with beef, sweet desserts and rich aromatic cheeses. Abbey Ale cellars well and will age like a fine wine. My recently purchased bottle had "good until 2016" expiration date. Buy some to enjoy now-and some to savor later.

Rare Vos: The name translates to "sly fox" in Flemmish, and it's also the name of a famous Brussels café. Rare Vos bills itself as a Belgian café ale, perhaps the American equivalent of an amber session ale. It pours with a hazy amber-orange color and is highly carbonated. There are aromas of bread, banana funk, and carmelized spices. The flavors are predominately bready and slightly sweet-with notes from sweet orange peel, peppery grains of paradise, and the spicy phenolic goodness from the Belgian yeast.

Three Philosophers: When I think of three philosophers, Moe, Larry, and Curly come to mind, but this beer isn't for knuckleheads. Three Philosophers is a Belgian Quadruple, a strong dark Belgian ale, blended with Liefmans Kriek-a Belgian cherry beer. The cork on the heavy glass bottle pops like a bottle of champagne. The beer pours a dark, mysterious cherry-chestnut color with a long-lasting lacy head. The aromas are a mix of cherries, raisins, and bready malt. Sip slowly from a Trappist chalice or goblet to savor the complex flavors of cherry, dark fruit, and malt. The finish is slightly sweet, with a warming alcoholic sensation-not surprising for a 9.7% brew. Three Philosophers is bottled by the year. Mine was from 2013. Older vintages can take on wine-like characteristics. Same as the Abbey Ale, buy a few extra bottles to cellar for a special occasion.

Witte: This Belgian Wit-a "white" wheat beer-won a bronze medal at the latest Great American beer festival. Witte pours naturally cloudy and light straw in color, with a meringue-like head. Aromas are of banana, citrus, and honey. The flavors are bready wheat and oranges, with a hint of bubblegum and yeast. Its finish is delightfully dry and crisp. Witte is a much lower in alcohol than the other Ommegang beers: 5.2%. Also, like most wheat beers, drink Witte as fresh as possible.

Valar Morghulis: Collaboration beers are all the rage. This one is unique because it's not between two breweries. Ommegang teamed with Home Box Office to brew a beer inspired by their megahit drama Game of Thrones. Fans of the show named it after the most feared words in high Valyrian, which translate to "all men must die." At first, I feared Valar Morghulis would be a cheesy gimmick. I shouldn't have worried; it was outstanding. Like their Abbey Ale, it's a dubbel, but very different. It's orange-brown with a beige head. The aromas are more earthy than Abbey, with notes of yeast and raisin. The flavors are a nice balance of bread, banana, and yeast, with a hint of chocolate. The body is fuller and slightly sweet-yet not cloying-finishing creamy, with a touch of hops. This limited edition release hit store shelves on November 1. Be sure to get a few bottles while the supply lasts.

(The Brew Dude is published every other week on the Food and Drink Page. For comments, suggestions, or questions, email Mark Pasquinelli at thebrewdude@newsitem.com.)

COAL TOWNSHIP - A comment from the Shamokin Area school board president Tuesday indicates a return of enrichment programs cut from the curriculum two years ago doesn't seem likely for next school year.

Tonya Wilk of the district's booster club for the band and orchestra asked directors during the board's monthly meeting if the elementary music program would return. Art, music and physical education were all eliminated as standalone programs at the elementary school in 2012.

The answer was short, brief and blunt.

"We're looking at a financial disaster, but members of the board are looking to bring the programs back," said board President Ron McElwee.

Shamokin Area faces a $3.2 million budget deficit for the 2015-16. McElwee's statement echoes what Superintendent James Zack said when asked about the programs in September.

"We look at it every year and I know the board would like to bring them back as soon as possible, but I don't think that's going to happen with the way the budget is. Unless something happens at the state level, there's no revenue to do that," Zack said in September.

Director Rick Kashnoski said last month he would seek meetings of both the curriculum committee and a special meeting of the entire school board to address the issue. Nothing has yet been announced.

Grant money

Shamokin Area is in the running for $1 million in grant money from the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority (PEDA). The funding would be used to replace the heating and cooling units at the middle/high school.

PEDA received 184 applications for $81 million in funding. There are 27 finalists for a combined $12.4 million. PEDA will decide today on which projects it will fund.

A redo

The board again revised its Long-Term Disability Insurance Contract with district administrators. Administrators are eligible for disability coverage for up to five years, effective Nov. 1. That's adjusted up from last month when the board voted to allow coverage to last three years, effective Oct. 1. It had previously lasted until an administrator was eligible for retirement.

Other business

The minimum cost to use the school's facilities is now $250 under a revised policy. It had previously been as low as $50. Organizers of the annual Knights of Columbus holiday basketball tournament have asked that the fee be dropped from $800 to $100. McElwee noted the new policy and said the board would consider the request.

A month-to-month lease agreement continues with Northwestern Academy, where Shamokin Area operates the regular and special education programs. The rental fee is $109,202.91 monthly, an expense the district had been looking to renegotiate. The monthly agreement has been in place since last school year.

The district is selling its old wrestling and tumbling mats. It will keep its old weight equipment, however, to potentially re-purpose in other district buildings. All new weight and cardio equipment was purchased for the middle/high school with federal grant money.

Lura Wasileski-Good was hired as a teacher. She has a bachelors degree and a French certification. She will receive a percentage of a $30,200 salary for the rest of the year plus partial benefits.

The community swim program will resume this fall. Robert Nye will serve as program director at an hourly wage of $18.50. Connie Boyer will be paid $300 for a 10-week swimnastics session.

The following positions will be posted on the district website or advertised: part-time French teacher, after-school tutor, head girls soccer coach, elementary teacher.

BURNSIDE - The Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (AOAA) is in the works to create a new look at an old rock formation that has already drawn geologists and tourists from around the world.

A $150,000 grant to build an observation deck overlooking the Whaleback was approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority, state Sen. John R. Gordner (R-27) and Rep. Kurt Masser (R-107) announced Tuesday.

The Whaleback is a geologic rock outcrop formed more than 250 million years ago, when compacted rock folded under the stress of tectonic plate shifts. Strip mining unearthed the approximately 400-yard long formation, exposing a three-dimensional view of the warped rock that can be climbed upon and examined closely.

Jim Backes, AOAA authority chairman, said that while the exact location of the observation deck is yet to be determined, it will be situated on an area of the AOAA's property leased from the county that already overlooks the Whaleback, which is on land owned by Reading Anthracite Co.

The view will extend to other sites, including the area locally known as "the caves."

"It's a good view to start and with the observation deck, it'll be even better," he said. "The view from the observation deck will be great, especially in fall and spring."

Backes said he anticipated the open air observation deck to include a surrounded parking area so motorized vehicle riders can stop and eat a picnic lunch while enjoying the view.

While the AOAA currently focuses on motorized recreational vehicles as its source of revenue, the observation deck and potential parking lot will be a boon to the educational community. Gordner noted geology programs of many colleges and universities in the region already visit the Whaleback as part of their curricula.

"From the beginning, the AOAA was intended to be a multi-use location, and it's certainly proven that," he said. "It's not just ATVs and off-road vehicles, but it's intended to be hiking and snowmobiling and horseback riding and nature discovery, and this would just add further to the diversity of that reclaimed coal area."

In 2012, a group of approximately 50 retired professors who all earned their doctorates in geology from Princeton University visited the Whaleback. Due to the rugged terrain, Kathy Jeremiah, grant manager and planning director for Northumberland County, enlisted local ATV club Anthracite Trail Riders to help transport the visitors to the site.

Gordner said the observation area will make the site more accessible.

"(The AOAA) wants to put informational stands in there for the people that are coming," he said. "It's not just the deck but what needs to be done to get to the deck so people can more easily view it and learn from it."

Backes said that he did not yet have an estimated date when the observation deck will be completed, but confirmed after Monday's authority meeting the "western reserve" of the AOAA, where the deck would be located, will be open to the public sometime during the 2015 season.

Kulpmont Halloween parade Thursday

KULPMONT - The borough's annual Halloween parade is set for 7 p.m. Thursday. Registration is at 6 p.m. at the Holy Angels Church parking lot.

Demo begins today on Diamond Street

SHAMOKIN - Parking will be restricted in and around the 200 block of South Diamond Street beginning today for the demolition of 241-243 S. Diamond St. Signs will be posted and streets will be closed.

Please remove all vehicles from the project area. Any vehicles not moved will be towed at the owner's expense.

For more information call City Hall at 570-644-0876.

Double life talk at Lifetree Café

SHAMOKIN - The high cost of living with a lie will be discussed at 7 p.m. Thursday at Lifetree Café, 531 N. Market St.

The program, "Living a Lie: The Perils of a Double Life," features the filmed story of Carol Grever, a woman who discovered after 30 years that her husband had been living a double life. Participants will gain practical insights into coping with the pain of discovering double lives as they follow Grever's journey toward forgiveness, growth and hope.

Admission to the 60-minute event is free. Snacks and beverages are available.

For more information, contact Kathy Vetovich at 570-672-9346 or kvetovich@gmail.com.

MOUNT CARMEL - The New York man who owns a collapsed building in Kulpmont owes $20,500 in fines after being found guilty of 21 more ordinance violations filed by borough code officer Russ Moroz.

During a summary trial Tuesday, Magisterial District Judge Hugh Jones chastised Thomas Valeiko, 73, for causing a public nuisance and potential safety hazard by failing to clear debris from his property at 1263 Chestnut St.

Jones, who found the Commack, N.Y., man guilty of each of the dangerous structure citations, stated, "The people in Kulpmont shouldn't have to live within sight and smell of that property. You voluntarily chose to be in the rental business and Kulpmont has been waiting for months for you to clean up the property."

Valeiko, who told the judge he doesn't have the money to remove the debris, argued that "an act of God" caused the second floor of his two-story cinder block structure to collapse Feb. 21 and blamed the borough for not "finishing the job" when it partially demolished it under an emergency order due to the danger it presented to neighboring properties. The rubble remains in a large pile on the lot despite 81 citations filed in the past six months against Valeiko for not removing it or making a good faith effort to have it taken away.

Valeiko was found guilty Aug. 28 by Jones of 20 ordinance violations involving the property and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine plus costs. After Tuesday's guilty verdict on each of the citations, Valeiko faces a total of $20,500 in fines plus costs.

He will face another summary trial on 40 additional citations Nov. 13. Moroz said he plans to continue to cite Valeiko daily for the same violation, which means his fine total will continue to escalate if he fails to comply.

Each of the 81 citations already filed against Valeiko carry a $500 fine. Moroz said future citations filed against Valeiko will carry a $1,000 fine, which is the maximum allowed under the ordinance.

In addition to the fines, Jones said Valeiko could face jail time.

'Best I can'

Valeiko's attorney Richard Feudale of Mount Carmel claimed the ordinance is "vague" and "poorly drafted" and agreed with his client that the borough should be responsible for cleaning up the rubble since it had the building partially demolished.

But Jones failed to agree with any of the defense's arguments.

Moroz said the defendant has made a little progress by removing some debris, but a large amount still sits on the property. The code officer showed the judge photographs. One vehicle is visible underneath the debris, but Valeiko contends there are three vehicles under the rubble.

Feudale said his client is showing some good faith in his efforts to resolve the problem by keeping the title to the property instead of "dumping it on the county."

Valeiko, who is on Social Security, told the judge his finances are limited. He claimed a few volunteers have used a dump truck to remove several loads of debris while other rubble has been placed into a Dumpster and hauled from the site.

But after looking at the photos, Jones said there are still "tons of debris" left on the property.

Valeiko, who doesn't have insurance on the property, claimed only the roof of the structure needed to be replaced. He said heavy snow and then rain caused the building to partially collapse. But Moroz said the building was blighted prior to the collapse.

The property owner, who walks slowly with a cane, told the judge he has a bad back and suffered a heart attack in the past. He said, "I'm doing the best I can with the property."

But Moroz and Jones disagreed.

Moroz said no maintenance was ever done to the building by Valeiko. He said the property owner could have had snow removed from the roof to avoid a heavy buildup.

Valeiko said he never heard of hiring a contractor to remove snow from a roof.

The property owner claimed there are no rodents inside the property because there is no food around. But Moroz claimed otherwise. Moroz also said the walls surrounding the property could collapse any time, creating a serious safety issue.

Valeiko, who claimed the walls are 1 1/2-feet thick, said, "I didn't create this mess and I ain't going to go out and rob a bank to get money."

$7k offered for another property

After the summary trial, Moroz and assistant code officer Angelo Venna said Valeiko could obtain money by selling another property he owns at 1401 Chestnut St., Kulpmont. Venna said a neighbor reportedly offered Valeiko $7,000 to purchase the property, but he turned him down.

On July 22, Jones had given Valeiko 20 days to develop an action plan to have the debris cleared by Sept. 30, but the judge said Valeiko negotiated in bad faith.

Valeiko appealed the previous 20 guilty verdicts to the Northumberland County Court of Common Pleas, and a hearing is scheduled for Nov. 6.

Valeiko previously waived to county court a misdemeanor charge of creating a public nuisance filed by Kulpmont Police Chief Michael Pitcavage.

ATLAS - A Bear Gap woman was arrested Friday and jailed in two separate theft cases.

Coleen M. Lowry, 32, of 640 Bear Gap Road, is accused of deceiving an Atlas woman earlier this month and stealing four personal checks. She cashed two totaling $735. Two other attempts at $750 helped lead to her apprehension.

She also is accused of stealing $340.23 in merchandise from Walmart Supercenter in Coal Township Aug. 15. A felony warrant was issued in the case, for which she was arrested.

Stolen checks

Mount Carmel Township Patrolman Kelly Campbell said in a criminal complaint that Victoria Berkoski, of 324 E. Columbia Ave., allowed Lowry to use her bathroom earlier this month. Lowry was a guest at the home with Joseph Vezo Jr., 26, who police said helps Berkoski with errands.

Lowry claimed Berkoski's toilet was leaking and that she would return to fix it. She did come back, and Berkoski paid an undisclosed amount of cash for the supposed work, according to a criminal complaint. That's when Campbell said Lowry stole two checks from Berkoski's purse and two others from a checkbook hidden elsewhere in the home.

On Oct. 14, Berkoski learned the checks were stolen and reported the incident to police. Two checks were cashed at the Susquehanna Bank branch in Ashland Oct. 6. The bank's Kulpmont and Shamokin branches rejected Lowry's alleged attempts to cash two other stolen checks Oct. 14. All three branches assisted police in the investigation.

Lowry was pulled over Friday on Route 61 by Campbell and arrested on the felony theft warrant from the Walmart case. She denied any involvement, Campbell said.

Lowry is charged by Campbell with felony counts of burglary, forgery and criminal trespass and misdemeanor charges of theft by deception, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property.

Retail theft

Coal Township Detective Jeffrey Brennan charged her with felony retail theft for the Aug. 15 incident at Walmart. He said she was initially apprehended by the store's loss prevention staff, but that she subsequently ran off through the store, up and down aisles before exiting through the automotive section.

She was arraigned Friday by Magisterial District Judge Hugh A. Jones. Bail is set at $50,000 in the case of the stolen checks, and $10,000 for the alleged Walmart theft. She remains locked up in Northumberland County Prison, Sunbury. Preliminary hearings are scheduled for Oct. 28 before Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III, Shamokin, and Oct. 29 before Jones.

SHAMOKIN - Ten speakers will address a variety of local animal issues from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Independence Fire Company.

The event, Community-wide Humane 101 Demonstration, will feature regional animal specialists discussing topics ranging from funding trap, neuter and release programs to helping dogs locked in hot cars.

Julia Dwilet said she and co-organizer, Ronda Balonis, decided to organize the event after attending a meeting in Harrisburg about humane law in April.

"We were the only two people there from our county and surrounding counties," said Dwilet. "Instead of having people go to a place like Harrisburg, I wanted to bring it into the community - right in our own backyards."

Dwilet hopes that by informing the public on the various agencies and programs that exist regionally, local animal issues will be handled more appropriately.

Speakers include Northumberland County Dog Warden Mark Rusinko, former state senator Roy Afflerbach, Purrfect Love Humane Society vice-president and Humane Society police officer Wayne Risch and local animal shelter representatives Laurie Gunsallus and Cheryl Hill.

State Rep. Kurt Masser will provide opening remarks if his schedule permits his attendance, Dwilet said.

Light refreshments donated by Dunkin' Donuts and Anthracite Provisions will be served.

Dwilet said Tuesday more than 50 people have already registered for the event and only 15 empty seats remain.

Registration for the event can be done through Eventbrite by searching "Community-wide Humane 101 Demonstration."

MILTON - A preliminary hearing was continued for a Northumberland man charged in relation to the death of a 9-year-old Sunbury boy.

Victor W. Hare III, 58, of 196 Springhouse Road, is scheduled to appear at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 5 before Magisterial District Judge Michael Diehl. He was originally scheduled to appear today.

Hare is charged with felony counts of child endangerment and gun possession. He was home and in charge of caring for Korbin Rager, who died Oct. 13 of an apparent drug overdose.

Police said a search of Hare's home turned up more than 40 bottles of various prescriptions, including Oxycontin. There was also alcohol throughout the house. None of it was secured, police said.

Also found in Hare's bedroom closet were a hinge-action 12-gauge shotgun and two bolt-action .22-caliber rifles. He is a previously convicted felon and is barred from possessing firearms.

Hare remains jailed at Northumberland County Prison, Sunbury, in lieu of $290,000 combined total bail on both charges.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Marcellus Shale fees will help fund the construction of a multipurpose indoor gymnasium at the Arch Street Playground.

Coal Township will receive $188,000 toward the construction of a two-court gymnasium. It now has $288,500 total in state funding to upgrade the entire playground.

The gymnasium is envisioned to be completed in two phases, and blueprints have already been drawn up. A steel pole building will be built at the site of the tennis and basketball hard courts. The indoor courts will be ground-level, and handicapped parking is planned.

The funds come from impact fees assessed on natural gas drillers, and are provided through the Keystone Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program. An observation deck to built on the grounds of the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area above the Whaleback rock formation will also be funded with shale fees. (See separate story.)

The grant award was announced Tuesday by the office of state Sen. John Gordner (R-27), who noted support in the House from state Rep. Kurt Masser (R-107). It's the second grant award for the township in the past week. A $500,000 grant was announced Thursday for a flood control project in Ranshaw.

Ready by spring?

Coal Township received a recreation grant in 2013 totaling $100,500 for improvements to the Arch Street Playground. The township is required to match that total with township funding or in-kind services. These funds are specific to the playground itself; however, the township is expected to seek state approval to alter its original plans to allow for site preparation for the gymnasium to be included.

Craig Fetterman, township commissioner chairman, said with the two awards combined, he expects construction could begin as soon as springtime.

Phase one would include site preparation, building construction and interior work to complete one of two playing courts. Fetterman said additional funds, private and public, will be sought to complete the second phase.

"We want two basketball courts inside, but if we can get one inside and get half the building functioning, we can then work on the second half," Fetterman said Tuesday.

A total cost estimate isn't known because of uncertainty surrounding additional funding.

Won't replace Legion building

Fetterman maintained that the township will seek local youth leagues to use the gymnasium, but he expressed caution. He said he doesn't want to jeopardize the vitality of neighboring Shamokin's American Legion Building. It's also home to the Shamokin-Coal Township Public Library, of which his wife is a board member.

"We need a library, we need that building," Fetterman said.

The Shamokin Youth Basketball League (SYBL) is a longtime tenant of the Legion building in the city's downtown. The gymnasium is located on the third floor and is not handicapped accessible. SYBL also uses the Ralpho Township and Line Mountain Elementary gyms.

George Zarick, SYBL president, said the league will use both buildings. There are 200 players registered for the upcoming season, and he said the league is growing.

"We're not abandoning the Legion. We're going to stay there, too," Zarick said Tuesday. "They've been very good to us over the years."

Previous funding attempts to revamp the Legion building, including the installation of an elevator, have fallen through. There are no significant plans for the building on the horizon, especially given Shamokin's tenuous financial standing.

Basketball seems the primary focus for the gymnasium, but Fetterman stressed that its use will be multipurpose. It will also be available for rent by the public. He expects it could boost revenue for the nearby businesses that dot West Arch Street.

In his campaign travels throughout the sprawling 11th Congressional District, which stretches from Cumberland County in the south to Wyoming County in the north, Andy Ostrowski has been telling people that he is "the alternative to Lou Barletta."

That message is one that people like to hear, he said. In fact, Ostrowski estimated that 60 to 70 percent of the people he's talked to during the campaign said they're happy to hear that Barletta, the incumbent, has an opponent in the Nov. 4 general election.

Barletta, Ostrowski maintains, is part of a congressional mindset that loves political posturing and remains committed to serving special interests while ignoring the needs of the people back home. Ostrowski said his life's work - as an attorney, founder of the Pennsylvania Civil Rights Law Network (PCRLN) and now as a candidate for public office - is all about giving citizens a voice. That theme is reflected in his campaign slogan, "Give Government Back to the People."

'Lost access' to courts

Ostrowski is especially concerned about what he describes as an increasingly powerful judiciary, to the point that he has even filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Pennsylvania judicial system.

"People have lost access to the courts," he said, suggesting that big law firms, bar associations and major corporations have a major advantage over ordinary people when it comes to seeking justice. Court reform is a principal goal of the PCRLN and is also listed among the candidate's top issues on his campaign website (andyostrowski.com).

The main problem, Ostrowski believes, is the lack of checks and balances in the system and the absence of oversight of the court system by the executive and legislative branches. This has resulted in an all-powerful judiciary, he said.

One way to enhance citizens' right to fair treatment in the courts would be the creation of a Citizens Protection Judicial Board, an independent, non-attorney oversight agency, Ostrowski said.

Throughout the campaign, Ostrowski has been open about circumstances surrounding the suspension in 2010 of his license to practice law. The suspension was prompted by the filing of a complaint by a former client. Ostrowski notes on his campaign website he was unable to follow through on the client's case because of medical reasons, and adds there that if he had proper mitigating medical evidence then, which he does now, the suspension would probably never have occurred.

The story is complicated by serious personal problems Ostrowski experienced at the time, but the candidate insists he has nothing to hide. "I invite people themselves to take a look (at the website)," he remarked.

Centralia connection

Before eventually starting a solo law practice, Ostrowski was affiliated with three private law firms in Harrisburg, the last one being Bailey and Stretton, in which one of the partners is civil rights attorney Don Bailey, a former congressman and former state auditor general. Bailey is listed as an associate of Ostrowski on the PCRLN website.

Among its "notable cases" listed on the PCRLN site is the federal lawsuit that resulted in remaining Centralians being allowed to remain in their homes. Ostrowski announced via an e-mail that he will participate in a cleanup event in Centralia Saturday as a way to help call attention to issues that still exist there.

Ostrowski pledged that, as congressman, his focus will be on serving the real needs of the people of the 11th District. He claims this is not the case now and charges Barletta with being part of a system that rewards special interests and political benefactors.

Ostrowski accused Barletta of never talking about the job-creation potential of anthracite coal. Although Ostrowski said he also supports "green energy" initiatives, he believes anthracite, still an abundant natural resource in northeastern Pennsylvania, has been unfairly overlooked.

"Anthracite has to be considered if the goal is to create jobs," Ostrowski remarked. "And it burns cleaner than bituminous."

Noting that Pennsylvania has more than its share of deficient bridges, Ostrowski also faults Barletta for lack of support for infrastructure improvements. One of government's most important responsibilities is the maintenance of a safe and reliable highway system, he said.

The 11st District is essentially rural, Ostrowski pointed out, and, as a result, he has spent much time the past few weeks meeting with owners of small farms. Politicians cater to agribusinesses, Ostrowski said, adding that family farms are so burdened with regulations they have a difficult time competing. He hopes, if elected, to have the opportunity to serve on the House Agriculture Committee.

Ostrowski describes himself as an "independent-minded" person. He has only been a registered Democrat since 2008. As a native of heavily Republican Lancaster County, the GOP naturally became his party affiliation for the first 10 to 12 years of his voting life. He was then a registered independent before becoming a Democrat. This is his first campaign and, as he describes it, his "first foray into the political world."

'Traditionally conservative'

Ostrowski said he believes the government process should be about making the world better and reaching out to others with compassion, but admitted that some of his values are "traditionally conservative."

A case in point is his strong support for the Second Amendment and individual gun owner rights. He said, however, that reason and common sense must dictate the nation's gun policy. "Obviously, someone can't expect they should be allowed to keep a Howitzer in their front yard," he said. And, he stressed, society does have a responsibility to try to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and away from those who are prone to violence.

Ostrowski chides Barletta for voting "40-plus times" to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Ostrowski believes the nation has a responsibility to guarantee all citizens have a right to obtain quality, affordable health care," but he isn't a big fan of the law itself.

"The ACA didn't address the real problems of out out-of-control costs and the moneyed interests' involvement in the health care industry," he said. He suggested that once it became clear after President Obama's election that health care reform was going to happen, corporations employed their lobbyists in full force to influence how the legislation was drafted.

Ostrowski said one problem that must be addressed is the increased costs experienced by employers as a result of the health care law.

Many challenges

Ostrowski admits he doesn't have all the answers to the nation's challenges:

Border security is vital, he said, but the nation has yet to come up with a fair immigration enforcement policy.

He is happy more nations in the Middle East are becoming involved in addressing the threat posed by the Islamic State and opposes sending U.S. ground troops there. "The Middle East has been a problem for most of our lives," he observed. "Do we really understand what is going on there?" He added that it is time to rethink our policy and develop a comprehensive solution.

Ebola, a problem that seems to change in scope from day to day, also defies a quick answer, Ostrowski said. He questioned whether the ability of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to manage the problem has been adversely affected by funding cuts that occurred through the sequestration process. "Another example of congressmen pandering for political purposes and, in the process, hurting the American people," he remarked.

Ostrowski said because his campaign is not funded by "big money," and since he not "beholden" to special interests, he has mounted a grass roots campaign throughout the nine-county district. He said he has handed out 12,000 cards and shaken hands of at least double that many people.

He knows he is the underdog, but is optimistic, he said, because of the feedback from people who believe they are not being adequately represented in Washington.

"What I have been hearing from everyone - across the political spectrum and people from all socioeconomic backgrounds - is they feel they no longer have access to government," he added.

SHAMOKIN - The winners of the Shamokin Halloween parade were announced after the event Wednesday night.

Individual

1st place: Brady Kodack as "Mouse in trap."

2nd place: Emma Grace Derck as "Witch."

3rd place: Alyssa Shurock as "Hot Air Balloon."

4th place: Lake Foulds as "Thomas the Train."

Couples

1st place: Keefer and Erin Wetzel as "Cutest on this side of Third Patch."

2nd place: Erin Bossler and Emily Olscwzewskie as "Fish Tank."

3rd place: Marie Mielke and Courtlynn Dale as "101 Dalmatians."

4th place: Makayla and Arianna Adams as "Frozen Halloween Dance."

Group

1st place: Venna, Carnuccio, and Cuff families as "Snow Happy to be Friends."

2nd place: Melinda Tharp's Daycare as "Minda's Neverland Pirates."

3rd place: Mackenzie Young, Sadey Seroski, Casey Bothwell and Lucas Eby as "Kenzie's Toybox."

Small float

1st place: New U by Tina as "Beauty School Dropout."

2nd place: Mollee Lahr as "Ladybug in Garden."

3rd place: Masyn Spaid as "Pirate."

Large float

1st place: Alicia Keefer as "Little Coal Miners."

2nd place: Rob's Good Time Grill as "Wizard of Rob's."

3rd place: Anthracite Animial Clinic as "What does the fox say?"

4th place: Carole Lubeskie as "Little Superheroes."

Prizes can be picked up at First National Bank in Shamokin during regular business hours beginning Friday.

Sponsors First National Bank, The News-Item and AREA Services offered a special thanks to the Shamokin City Police Department, Shamokin Street Department, Shamokin Fire Police, Shamokin Area bands and all participating emergency personnel. Thanks were also extended to everyone who entered and participated in the parade, whose support and involvement is appreciated, and to the volunteers who helped during registration.