SUNBURY - The following candidates have filed nomination petitions for the May 19 primary election:
- Gene Welsh Jr., Democrat, Coal Township commissioner.
- John Seiler Jr., Democrat Coal Township constable.
- Frank Sheptock, Republican, Marion Heights Borough Council.
- Floyd Maurer, Republican, West Cameron Township constable.
The deadline for candidates to circulate and file nomination petitions is March 10.
SUNBURY - Approximately 300 people packed the Sunbury Social Club Wednesday night for the second of two informational meetings about the Sunbury Pipeline project.
The attendees, made up of utility employees, landowners and labor union representatives, were there to discuss the 35-mile pipeline that would run from northern Lycoming County to the site of the Sunbury Generation LLC plant in Shamokin Dam.
UGI Energy Services LLC announced in February they would be running the pipeline to help fuel the planned 1,000-megawatt natural gas-fueled power generation facility near Shamokin Dam, being built by Sunbury Generation LP and Panda Power Funds. The new plant will replace the existing coal-fired plant.
Ken Robinson, project spokesman, was pleased with the turnout.
"We had our first meeting last night in Lairdsville, but the turnout here is twice as big, which we expected since many of the landowners are in this area," Robinson said.
For Craig and Shelly Adams, of Winfield, the meeting was an opportunity to get an exact look as where the pipeline could be put on their property.
"It goes right through it," Craig Adams said.
The informal meeting was property owners' first chance to meeting with one of UGI's right-of-way land agents to see how the pipeline will affect their property.
Different stations throughout the hall offered information about how the pipeline will be constructed, safety and concerns and other ideas.
"That is the purpose of this meeting: Give everyone the information about the project and let them make informed decisions," Robinson said.
The opposition was outside the building.
Dave Leidacker and Mark Heuer, representing the Shale Justice organization, were outside the Sunbury Social Club handing out information papers with facts against the pipeline.
"We have some issues with it," Heuer said. "There are so may other alternatives, I don't know why we need to use natural gas and do this project."
After meeting with the land agent, the Adams family had some reservations as well.
"I already have a powerline running through my property that had a 50-foot right of way that I can't use," Craig Adams said. "They told me initially that they would try to run it close to that line, but it is running parallel with it with a separate right of way."
For Adams, the two projects would take away five acres of the 20 he owns, flat land he hoped to sell off for housing.
Currently the project is in the planning stages with a formal application coming to the Federal Energy Regulation Commission by mid-year with construction staring in 2016 if approved and operation in 2017.
More information about the project can be found at www.sunburypipeline.com.
MOUNT CARMEL - A Riverside woman charged with arson and related offenses was held for court Wednesday following a 45-minute preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Hugh Jones.
Shawn Marie Shea, 36, of 2 Hower Road, who is accused of intentionally setting her husband's vehicle on fire and jeopardizing the life of Riverside Patrolman Timothy Kiefaber when the car exploded Saturday night in Riverside, had her case sent to Northumberland County Court. She remains incarcerated at Snyder County Prison on $15,000 cash bail despite an attempt by Public Defender Paige Rosini to have her bail reduced.
Kiefaber was the only witness to testify at the hearing.
Assistant District Attorney William Cole represented the commonwealth.
Upon responding to the car fire at about 10:15 p.m., Kiefaber was notified that Shea was located and taken into custody by Mahoning Township Officer Charles Dietterick a short distance away on Elysburg Road (Route 54).
Shortly after, Shea advised Dietterick that "her baby" was in the car. Dietterick then relayed that information by radio to Kiefaber, who checked the vehicle for occupants but was knocked backward when the auto exploded.
Shea later told police she was the only person in the vehicle prior to it catching fire. When asked by police what she meant by "her baby" being in the car, Shea said she was referring to pictures of her dogs.
Shea admitted using a torch to set the car on fire to "teach her husband (Jeffrey Frey) a lesson."
Shea said the vehicle was in her husband's name and by destroying it, she would make him mad.
Frey, who lives at the same residence as Shea, filed a protection from abuse order against his wife Monday and is scheduled for a hearing at 9:30 a.m. March 4 before Northumberland County Hearing Officer Marsha Skoff.
February is coming to a close, and along with it, the record-breaking arctic air that has gripped the area for much of the month.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS) in State College, the mean temperature from Feb. 1 through Tuesday was 18.4 degrees. That is on par to break the previous record of 18.9 degrees, set in 1934.
"We have a few days to go, and it's going to be a little milder, but it won't be enough to pull the number up that much," Aaron Tyburski, a meteorologist with the NWS, said Wednesday. "It looks like it (the record) should be a done deal."
No arctic air next week
Sunday's high temperature of 41 degrees felt like a heat wave compared to the well-below average temperatures that on several occasions broke records. Warmer air is forecast to gradually return this weekend when temperatures will again flirt with 40, which is near average for this time of the year. The low temperatures for Sunday and Monday will be in the mid-20s, which is a far cry from Tuesday's record-low temperature of minus 5 degrees in Selinsgrove.
In comparison, Chandlers Valley, Warren County, hit -11 Tuesday morning. The coldest morning of the season there was Feb. 16, when the arctic air dropped temperatures to -32 degrees.
"The ridge over the western part of the country is going to relax, which will allow the cold air to drop further to the south and west," Tyburski said. "With it, we will see a mixed bag of precipitation, but I don't see any arctic air next week."
Climate for March
The record high and low for March for Harrisburg, the closest NWS climate station, is 87 degrees, set in 1998, and 5 degrees, set in 1984.
In 2014, the highest reported temperature was 67 degrees March 11. The lowest reported temperature was 12 degrees March 1 and 4.
The average high and low for March is 50 and 33 degrees, respectively. The average rainfall and snowfall is 3.37 and 5.2 inches, respectively.
The record daily snowfall was 22.8 inches, which fell during the Blizzard of 1993. The storm serves as a reminder that March can be just as brutal as February.
CATAWISSA R.R. - Issues with the water well at G.C. Hartman Elementary School forced Southern Columbia Area School District to cancel classes Wednesday.
Superintendent Paul Caputo reported the lack of water was discovered at 7:55 a.m., and the cause was found later in the day.
"When we pulled up the pump out, it was filled with mud, which tells us that the well has run dry," Caputo said.
At a district board meeting Feb. 16, SCA's building and grounds supervisor Tim George reported the 387-foot well, dug when the G.C. Hartman Elementary School was originally built, is running dry.
The district is currently working on a solution to the problem, either by drilling down in the original well to a depth of 500 feet, or drilling a new well in the spring.
Before anything can be done, the district must hire a hydrogeologist and a civil engineer with sanitary qualifications to work together on the matter.
The district has received three quotes from hydrogeologists and they will be discussed at a facilities and finance committee meeting of the school board on Monday.
George said Feb. 16 a conservative estimate on the cost of the project would be between $30,000 to $50,000.
Students were on a scheduled two-hour delay Wednesday so that teachers had an opportunity to analyze data from recent test results, so no pupils were on school grounds at the time.
"With the two-hour delay, the first students were scheduled to be dropped off at the school at about 9:55 a.m., so the buses were not even out on the road when we made the decision," Caputo said. "A silver lining was that it gave the teachers more time to analyze the date and to do some curriculum alignment."
The superintendent said water will be diverted from the high school well to fill up the elementary school's tanks, which will also be supplemented with a delivery of municipal water from Bloomsburg Wednesday afternoon.
"If all goes well, we will be re-opening school on Thursday," Caputo said.
As far as what Wednesday's cancellation of classes will do to the district calendar, Caputo said that there are a few options available.
"We could make the session with the teachers an in-service day and trade it for another one later this year," Caputo said. "We could make it an Act 80 day, but if the teachers go on strike, the Act 80 days would go away."
Another option is to apply for an emergency day that would not count against the district with the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Caputo said he contacted the department Wednesday and is waiting to hear back to consult with them.
Farmers breakfast scheduled
SUNBURY - Those who work in or are involved with the agriculture industry throughout the 108th state legislative district are invited to attend Rep, Lynda Schlegel Culver's annual Farmer's Breakfast, 9 to 11 a.m. Friday, at the Front Street Station, 2 Front St., Northumberland.
Acting Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding will discuss state agriculture issues.
To RSVP, visit Culver's district office, 106 Arch St., Sunbury, or call 570-286-5885.
Third degree ceremony in Shamokin
SHAMOKIN - Knights of Columbus Council 458 of Shamokin will host an Exemplification of the Third Principal of the Order at 2 p.m. Sunday at their banquet/social hall on Independence Street.
Candidates from Northumberland and surrounding counties, including District 54, will be present to realize advancement to Third Degree status. Observers and dignitaries may also be present to witness the ceremony. District 54 encompasses clubs from Shamokin, Kulpmont, Mount Carmel, Ashland and Elysburg areas.
The degree team will be comprised of members from the Northeast Third Degree Team. Candidates need to report by 1 p.m. After the ceremony, attendees will gather at Council 458 for a social hosted by members of the Shamokin Knights. For more information, contact Grand Knight Andy Stefanowicz at 570-205-8244 or any member of the Shamokin Council.
SHAMOKIN - The city tax office was cleared Thursday after a strong odor of gas was detected.
A suspected gas leak was discovered shortly before 3 p.m., and Treasurer Brenda Scandle and a tax office employee closed for the day.
Members of the Shamokin Fire Bureau responded, as did city police and UGI Central Penn Gas.
The office will reopen today, Scandle said.
SHAMOKIN - The driver blamed for the deaths of two elderly cousins in a head-on crash on Natalie Mountain is being sued by the victims' estates.
Lawsuits were filed separately against Glenn D. Meredith, 54, of Strong, who police say was under the influence of prescription pain killers when he drove his pickup truck into an oncoming sport utility vehicle along Route 54 in Mount Carmel Township in February 2013.
Charles D. Carl, 92, and Ronald E. Matejick, 76, who both lived in Gordon, were pronounced dead at the scene.
Ricky Matejick, on behalf of the Matejick estate, filed a writ of summons Jan. 6, and is represented by Michael E. Kosik of the Schmidt Kramer law firm, Harrisburg. Diana Troutman did the same on Jan. 27 on behalf of the Carl estate, and is represented by attorney Todd A. Johns, of Archbald. Complaints detailing the allegations have not been filed.
Witnesses told police Meredith's 2001 Dodge Dakota was swerving on and off the road before it crossed into the westbound lane and collided with a 2004 GMC Envoy driven by Tina Alexander, 40, of Gordon, a relative of the cousins. She suffered serious injuries.
Meredith was charged Feb. 18 with 15 counts, including homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter and aggravated assault by vehicle. A preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Hugh A. Jones, Mount Carmel, is continued until March 18.
HARRISBURG - The public is invited to a town hall meeting on pension reform from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 26, in room A180 at the Widener Law School, 3737 Vartan Way. Coffee and cookies will be served starting at 6:30 p.m.
The meeting is sponsored by the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association Foundation and the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry in conjunction with PCN and PennLive/The Patriot-News.
Pennsylvania's two public pension systems, the State Employee Retirement System and the Public School Employees' Retirement System, are estimated to be more than $50 billion in debt. Lawmakers, school districts and business leaders are calling for comprehensive pension reform, saying that it's the only way to protect schools and communities from greater tax increases. Others say that a 2010 law on pensions needs to be given more time to work.
Learn more at panewsmedia.org/events.
SHAMOKIN - Five people have been charged with felony drug offenses in connection with separate incidents in the city dating to last summer.
Cpl. Bryan Primerano, the city's narcotics investigator, has charged Amy Carl, 30, of 867 W. Spruce St., Coal Township, and Donna D. McCarthy, 46, of 509 Spurzheim St., with two sets of charges.
Carl is accused of delivering five Oxycodone pills for $50, possessing with intent to deliver Oxycodone and criminal use of a communication facility relating to an incident at 9:40 p.m. July 21 at Raspberry Hill. She also is charged with delivering six Alprazolam tablets for $30 and possessing with intent to deliver Alprazolam involving an incident at 1:55 p.m. July 21.
McCarthy is charged by Primerano and Trooper David T. Burns with two counts each of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, delivery of cocaine and possession of cocaine, and one count of criminal use of a communication facility in connection with a June 17 incident. She is accused of delivering two bags of cocaine for $100.
She also is charged by Primerano with delivering a half-gram bag of cocaine for $50, possessing with intent to deliver cocaine and criminal use of a communication facility involving a June 13 incident on Spurzheim Street.
Andrew L. Lego, 38, of 410 N. Shamokin St., Shamokin, is charged by Primerano and Burns with two counts each of delivering Oxycodone pills, possessing with intent to deliver Oxycodone, possessing Oxycodone and criminal use of a communication facility involving a June 10 incident on North Shamokin Street.
Police said Lego delivered a total of 17 Oxycodone pills for $80.
Primerano charged Vanessa Thorpe, 33, of 22 N. Market St., Apt. 6, Shamokin, with delivering five Clonazepam pills for $25 and possession with intent to deliver Clonazepam on July 25.
Joshua Knapik, 22, of 1109 W. Independence St., Coal Township, was charged by Primerano with delivering three Oxycodone tablets for $75, possession with intent to deliver Oxycodone and criminal use of a communication facility relating to a Sept. 8 incident.
Primerano said a confidential informant was used by police in each of the drug transactions.
All five defendants were arraigned at about 10 a.m. Thursday by Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III, who released each of them on $10,000 bond with bail supervision conditions.
They are scheduled for preliminary hearings Tuesday before Gembic.
Read Across America at MCA
MOUNT CARMEL - "The Wacky Weather of Dr. Seuss," a Read Across America event, will be held 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Mount Carmel Area Elementary School cafeteria. The theme is Dr. Seuss and attendees are encouraged to dress as a Seuss character or in Seuss style. The first 200 Mount Carmel Area students to sign in receive a free book.
David Dombek, expert senior meteorologist with AccuWeather, is a special guest. Games, activities, snacks and prizes will be part of the celebration. All children must be supervised.
Kindergarten registration open
COAL TOWNSHIP - Shamokin Area School District is taking appointments for 2015-16 kindergarten registration, to be held March 9 to 11 at the elementary school. Call 570-648-5721, ext. 2900. Children must be 5 years old by the first day of school, tentatively scheduled for Sept. 1.
Pickleball club to get started
TREVORTON - The Zerbe Township Recreation Committee will host pickleball nights every Monday in March from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Line Mountain Elementary School. Pickleball is a badminton-like sport where competitors strike a hollow, holed ball across a netted court using a paddle. For more information call 570-797-1551.
Businesswomen's meeting planned
SELINSGROVE - The Soroptimist International Club of Snyder, Union and Northumberland counties will hold its regular monthly dinner meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Masonic Building. Guest speaker is Susan Mathias, CEO of Transitions.
The SUN Soroptimist Club is an international volunteer service organization for business and professional women who work to improve the lives of women and girls in local communities and throughout the world. The group encourages any person who is interested in volunteering and becoming a member to contact any club member or Diane Savidge at 570-837-2532 or dmsavidge@gmail.com.
NEW BERLIN - As a 4 year old, Art Lieberman traveled with his mother from his home in Brooklyn to Broadway for the very first time to see Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Carousel."
The musical struck a chord with Lieberman. His mother took note of her son's love of music and took him back for another. Then another.
Soon they were visiting Broadway several times a year to fill Lieberman's insatiable appetite for theater.
Now an adult living and running a credit card processing company in New Berlin, Lieberman hopes to share his adoration for the stage with area high school theater departments by raising money to fund productions.
"It's my passion," said Lieberman. "I've seen what (music and theater) does for young people."
Box office revenue from Lieberman's most recent endeavor, a concert performed by BeeGeeZ U.S.A., scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at Susquehanna University's Weber Chapel, will be split 50-50 with four area high schools.
Schools involved are Selinsgrove Area High School, Mid-West High School, Shikellamy High School and Milton Area High School.
Three students from each Selinsgrove Area, Mid-West, Shikellamy and Milton Area high schools will help sell and distribute tickets at the box office and usher during the performance.
BeeGeeZ U.S.A., a six-member tribute band based in Middleburg, will perform the music of the prominent disco trio the Bee Gees while dressed in costume as the Gibb brothers.
Lieberman previously booked the group to perform at the Courtyard Theater in Selingrove. The show was a sellout, he said, and he hopes to fill the 1,500 seats of Weber Chapel during the fundraiser.
"The band is terrific," he said.
Lieberman is already providing support to the fundraiser through MCPS for Campgrounds, the campground credit card processing company he operates out of a yurt in the backyard of his house in New Berlin.
"I had this money, and for 49 years I played piano and sang," he said of his decision to return some of what he's earned back into the industry he loved.
Lieberman said he realized at age 12 he could play music by ear. He took up the piano and said he can still play and sing 16,000 songs from memory.
He landed in New Berlin in 2000 after managing an international food and music festival in his native Brooklyn. He decided to take a break after the festival ended, and while away met a woman who lived in Central Pennsylvania.
He liked her so much he picked up and moved, taking a job and settling down. The relationship didn't last, though, but he enjoyed the area and decided to stay. He met his wife and built up his MCPS for Campgrounds business.
While Lieberman liked his new home, he missed the glitz and glamor of Broadway. He began attending local high school performances, which more than filled the void.
"They do marvelous work," he said of the school theater crews. "I've been to 40 local musicals and loved them."
But Lieberman began to take note of the effect of a national trend to cut funding to public school theater and arts programs.
"They did a survey and found the dropout rate had accelerated 30 percent," he said. "Drama and music classes gave them social activities."
He decided to try to make a difference in the community by raising funds through a local awards show for high school productions, but found this foray to be unsuccessful because many of the same schools already participated in the Ray of Light Awards, hosted each year in Williamsport.
In the meantime, he met Bob Taylor and the pair began working together on productions at The Courtyard Theater, located in the Susquehanna Valley Mall.
It was in this role he discovered BeeGeeZ U.S.A.
"We made a deal for half the gate," he said. "They sold out the place. They were sensational."
Liberman then worked with the group to organize other performances, including shows at the Susquehanna Valley Country Club and Hufnagle Park in Lewisburg.
"It lit a spark in my mind," he said. "Susquehanna University was very, very kind to me. They offered me the chapel at a very low price."
He initially invited nine schools to join in the box office take, including Shamokin and Mount Carmel Area high schools, but only four accepted the invitation. These schools will be sent 100 tickets to sell and keep half of the money collected from the box office and advertising.
"Each school would make more money than before," he said of the benefit of a small number of participating schools.
Tickets for the show are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Weber Chapel is located at University Avenue and West College Circle in Selinsgrove.
For more information on the show or to purchase tickets call 570-966-0080 or email sunhsawards@yahoo.com.
SHAMOKIN - City residents should keep an eye on their pay stubs in the coming weeks as the newly doubled earned income tax will nibble away at their earnings.
Anyone who lives in the city and is employed pays the tax, with some exceptions. When, exactly, the increased tax is deducted is up to employers, said Brenda Scandle, city treasurer. Keystone Collections Group is in the process of contacting employers to notify them of Shamokin's new 2 percent rate.
Northumberland County President Judge William H. Wiest sided with Shamokin officials Wednesday when he approved an increase from 1 percent. The city will receive 1.5 percent of collections, and 0.5 percent is due to the Shamokin Area School District.
The rate is retroactive to Jan. 1. Scandle said employers must also decide how to deduct the tax - spread the taxes due from the retroactive period over the rest of the year or perhaps take a lump sum from that period only.
Shamokin petitioned the court for the tax increase as part of its Act 47 plan. It's estimated to bring an additional $408,000 to city coffers in 2015, and boost total earned income tax revenue to an average of nearly $900,000 annually over the next five years.
The latest information from the U.S. Census Bureau says the median household income in Shamokin is $32,172. At the new rate, the earned income tax on the median household income would be $643.44, about $12.37 per week.
SHAMOKIN - A tractor-trailer was temporarily stuck at Sunbury and DuBarry streets in Shamokin shortly before noon Wednesday. The truck reportedly ran over a stop sign as the driver tried to navigate the narrow streets in the Bunker Hill section of the city.
Police, who did not have an accident report completed Thursday and didn't have the identity of the driver available, said the operator will not be cited.
A wayward trucker who got lost in the same section of the city did significant damage vehicles and properties Dec. 4, most notably tearing the front off a house at North Rock and Kase streets. Police said at the time that truck drivers traveling through the city on Sunbury Street, which is Route 61, are misguided by GPS and continue straight at the last red light at the east end of town up into the narrow streets of Bunker Hill instead of bearing right to stay on Route 61.
HARRISBURG - Local state Reps. Kurt Masser (R-107) and Lynda Schlegel Culver (R-108) both voted Thursday in favor of House Bill 466, which would privatize the sale of wine and spirits in Pennsylvania.
Masser, through a press release from his office, said it's about government focusing on its core functions.
"Selling alcohol is absolutely not a core government function," he said.
Culver, who said earlier this week she was still debating the many facets and impacts of the bill, said she was leaning toward privatization based on the same "not a core function" argument.
Thursday, both voted, along with most other Republicans, to move the bill to the Senate.
They did the
same with a bill last year that died in the Senate.
The new bill's fate in the other chamber is far from certain again. Even Sen. John Gordner (R-27), who makes up the final third of the local Republican legislative contingent, has expressed concerns about liquor sales expanding to 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Masser said "the vast majority" of Pennsylvanians agree the private sector can do a better job or running the liquor business.
"The people of Pennsylvania deserve to have the opportunity to shop for alcohol with convenience as residents of 48 other states already have," he said.
Masser, owner of the Wayside Inn near Shamokin, referenced his business in defending privatization.
"When visitors from out of state come into my business and ask me where they can get a bottle of wine and a case of beer, I cringe to see their expression as I answer," he said. "Most of them have never even heard of a 'state store' before, because every other state except Utah has realized that the private sector is the right answer."
DANVILLE - The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) recently awarded two Beacon Awards for Excellence to nursing units at Geisinger Medical Center (GMC).
The Beacon Award for Excellence recognizes adult critical care, adult progressive care and pediatric critical care units that achieve high-quality outcomes and exemplify excellence in professional practice and patient care. Units that achieve this three-year award meet national criteria consistent with Magnet Recognition, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and the National Quality Healthcare Award.
GMC's Adult Intensive Care Unit was granted a gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence, one of only six nursing units in Pennsylvania to be recognized with the award. The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Janet Weis Children's Hospital was granted a silver-level award, one of only 15 nursing units to win silver in Pennsylvania.
"The Beacon Awards confirm what I see on these units every day, extraordinary professionals delivering the highest levels of care," said Crystal Muthler vice president of nursing and chief nursing officer. "We set extremely high standards for all of our nurses, and as such, our nurses are now national role models to other nurses on their journey to exceptional patient care and quality outcomes."
GMC is one of just 18 Pennsylvania hospitals - and among fewer than six percent of all hospitals in the United States - to twice be named a Magnet hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center for excellence in nursing and patient care.
COAL TOWNSHIP - Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School has launched a challenging fundraising campaign to renovate its physics, chemistry and biology labs to better meet the technology needs of today's students.
High school Principal Deacon Martin McCarthy said the school is seeking donations from alumni, parents and community residents to help offset the estimated $111,000 "Science Labs Project." If enough funding is generated through donations and building fund money, McCarthy is optimistic the project can be completed this summer.
"The science labs have remained basically the same since the school opened in 1959," McCarthy said. "They are in dire need of renovations. Our plan is to provide updated equipment and resources in the labs, including more cabinets and storage space, to make the science programs operate as efficiently as possible."
The principal said he has already received financial commitments from alumni and is particularly targeting parents whose students will benefit from the renovated labs.
He encouraged donors to become part of the "continuing and growing legacy of excellence" at Lourdes.
'So important'
Spearheading the fund-raising project are director of development Jacqueline
Kerris and a committee headed by 1989 Lourdes graduate Annette Rosini MacLachlan. Other alumni actively involved in the project include Drs. Kimberly Skelding (1987), Henry Fesniak (1976) and William Apollo (1983).
MacLachlan said she looks forward to working with school employees and hopefully other OLOL alumni to raise funds.
"Science is a critical part of education, and giving the students access to the most recent equipment and technology is so important," she said.
Lourdes physics teacher Kelly McCarthy, a 2004 alumnus, is excited about the project.
"By updating the layout and instrumentation in our high school science labs, we will have the opportunity to offer our students so much more in preparation for college-level laboratory courses and beyond," she said.
"Our physics, chemistry and biology students work in the labs almost weekly and deserve to work with updated materials, lab benches and learning spaces."
Students in grades seven through 12 take physics, biology and chemistry classes.
Enrollment growing
In a letter sent to parents and alumni seeking donations, Kerris stressed the importance of the science labs project. She noted enrollment at the school has grown 30 percent since 2010 and includes students from a five-county area.
She pointed out that money has been invested in the facility to provide the best environment for students. Last summer, more than $200,000 was spent installing new windows throughout the school.
"We are asking parents, alumni and the community to support this project. Any amount, big or small, will help," she said.
She stressed that every dollar given will go straight to the laboratory renovation project.
Donations can be mailed to: Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School Science Laboratory Fund, 2001 Clinton Ave., Coal Township, Pa. 17866. Donations also are being accepted through the school's website: www.lourdes.k12.pa.us - just click on the "donate online" button and email jkerris@lourdes.k12.pa.us to specify your online donation was for the project.
The tentative deadline for donations is April 30.
All donations are tax-deductible and contributors will have their names listed in the school's annual report.
The following is list of levels of giving:
- Naming a lab in your family name or in memory of someone - $50,000.
- Diamond - $25,000 to $49,999.
- Emerald - $15,000 to $24,999.
- Sapphire - $10,000 to $14,999.
- Ruby - $5,000 to $9,999.
- Pearl - $1,000 to $4,999.
Anyone donating in the abovementioned levels will have a special plaque hung in the school in their honor.
For more information, call Kerris at 570-644-0375, ext. 127.
MILTON - Three teams of students from local high schools presented devices and ideas on how to improve the quality of life for citizens of Pennsylvania during the Governor's PA STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) competition at the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit (CSIU).
To prepare for the competition, students selected a real-world problem, conducted research, designed and built a device or prototype and submitted a written proposal that described the problem, identified community needs and conveyed the use of engineering processes and principles.
Prevent freezing on bridges
A solution proposed by students at Southern Columbia Area High School would not only improve the lives of drivers who commute to work and school, but also extend the life of bridges. They talked with staff from Swank and Son Well Drilling, of Bloomsburg, and brainstormed ideas on how to prevent freezing on bridges. After testing multiple ideas and models, they discovered that running heat tape through the top layer of concrete would heat the bridge and melt snow and ice.
The team of students from Bloomsburg University's STEM Magnet program worked with engineers from Kawneer, of Bloomsburg, and designed a stylus that doubles as a common pencil-top eraser. The stylus works with mobile phones, tablet computers and other touch-screen devices.
First place
Students from Sugar Valley Rural Charter School surveyed members of the community about potential problems and determined there was a lack of community spirit in the school's town of Loganton. Based on feedback and suggestions received from community members, the team created a calendar database application that organizes and quickly shares event information with residents of the community.
Teams were scored on written and verbal communication, creativity, teamwork, collaboration, ingenuity and problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
The team of students from Sugar Valley Rural Charter School took first place. Competition judges included the director of engineering from Thermal Product Solutions (New Columbia), professors and faculty from Bloomsburg University and Bucknell University, and CSIU staff members.
State competition
The CSIU was one of 20 intermediate units that hosted a regional STEM Competition. First-place teams will advance to the state competition at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Lancaster in May. Teams are provided with feedback and will have the opportunity to incorporate judges' suggestions into their projects before the state competition.
SUNBURY - The following candidates are the latest to file nomination petitions for the May 19 primary election, according to the Northumberland County Board of Elections:
- Bruce Facer, Democrat, Mount Carmel Township supervisor.
- Richard Wright Jr., Democrat, Coal Township constable.
- Rebecca Ray, Republican, Upper Augusta Township supervisor.
The deadline for candidates to circulate and file nomination petitions is March 10.
SNYDERTOWN - The water was bone-chilling cold, but the participants didn't care.
The brave souls who plunged into the icy water at the Bressi homestead in Snydertown Saturday afternoon considered the moments they spent in the pond nothing compared to what some animals endure.
"Stray cats are out in the cold all the time," said event organizer Maria Bressi. "This is just a drop in the bucket compared to their plight."
Bressi and about 10 other swimmers took the plunge on behalf of Bressi Critter Crusaders, an organization Maria Bressi started with her cousin Danielle to help control the stray cat population through trapping, neutering and release.
Maria Bressi said money raised from the event will be used to provide services to aid the region's surplus cat population.
Maria Bressi said she and Danielle began helping cats after they found a stray on First Street in Shamokin with a "messed-up face."
"We ended up catching him, got him fixed and found a home for him," she said.
The adopter donated $200 to the Bressi cousins' cause.
"We created a joint bank account and decided to use the money in there to help other cats," she said.
After cutting a hole in the foot-deep ice Friday night, Bressi had to do a little chopping again Saturday morning.
"The weather froze the pond over again, but not as thick," she said.
At 1 p.m., Maria and Danielle, followed by supporters, jumped one-by-one into the frigid water.
"I guess Maria and I took being crazy cat ladies to a whole new level," Danielle Bressi said.
It was a bit freezing, the family said, but well worth it.
"I didn't think about the cold, I just thought about saving cats," Maria said.
Her father, Joe Bressi, was so inspired by her efforts that he decided to also jump in.
"The kids are trying to cash in the insurance early," Bressi joked before leaping into the ice bath.
"Wow!" the 71-year-old Bressi said afterwards, "That was cold."
Bressi Critter Crusaders' next event will be a "Night Out for the Cats of Natalie" set for 8 p.m. Saturday at the Natalie Fire Company.
The $3 cover charge will help the organization start a trap-neuter-release program in Natalie.
Anyone wishing to donate to the group can send contributions to Bressi Critter Crusaders, 2 E. Independence St., Shamokin 17872.
