Mass at cemetery Monday

ELYSBURG - All Saints Cemetery will host its annual Memorial Day Mass at 10 a.m. Monday on the cemetery grounds, adjacent to the office. Please bring a chair for your comfort,

Kevin J. Shervinskie, manager, announced the Rev. Robert Berger, a retired U.S. Army chaplain, a native of the area and current pastor of Mary Gate of Heaven Parish of Myerstown is celebrant for this year's Mass. This marks the 27th year an outdoor Mass has been celebrated honoring eterans and loved ones buried in All Saints Cemetery.

Musical to share God's plan

MILTON - "The Story, The Musical," based on best-selling books by Max Lucado and Randy Frazee, will be presented by the Milton Community Choir at St. Andrew's United Methodist Church at 7 p.m. today. Shamokin area soloists include Nick McWilliams, Cole Supsic, Kevin Styer and Sharon Styer.

Admission is free and the public is invited.

The program presents "God's redemptive plan for His people from Genesis to Revelation," and is under the direction of Russell Wynn.

MC4A plans scholarship contest

MOUNT CARMEL - Mount Carmel Area Athletic Alumni Association (MC4A) reminds Mount Carmel Area High School graduates who are attending an institution of higher learning that the deadline to apply for the MC4A scholarships is July 13.

MC4A will award six $2,500 scholarships to the winners of a lottery-style drawing at the annual scholarship awards dinner Aug. 12 at Mattucci's Willow Cafe. The scholarship increases to $3,000 for any winner whose parent is a member of MC4A.

Winners will be selected from qualified college students who submit an application and a higher education transcript.

For an application and more information, go to www.mc4a.org or contact Dan Ficca at 570-373-5936. Only college students who apply will be entered into the lottery drawing.

Shamokin-Coal Township

Shuffleboard players are wanted to join a new group meeting between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Members interested in Wii bowling, bridge, pinochle, Pokeno, poker, bingo or unlucky 7s are also welcome to join. The center boasts a great jackpot.

Monday - Closed. Memorial Day.

Tuesday - Poker game, 8:30 a.m.; walk-a-mile, 9:30 a.m.; game show, 11 a.m.; world news, noon; bridge, noon.

Wednesday - Morning cards, 8:30 a.m.; bridge lessons, 9:30 a.m.; Wii bowling, 10 a.m.; pinochle and Pokeno, noon.

Thursday - Morning cards, 8:30 a.m.; walk-a-mile, 9:30 a.m.; Wii bowling, 10 a.m.; nickel bingo, noon.

Friday - Morning cards, puzzles and shuffleboard, 8:30 a.m.; Wii bowling, 10 a.m.; nickel bingo, noon.

Saturday - Cards, 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Mount Carmel

Monday - Closed. Memorial Day.

Tuesday - Wii bowling, 9 a.m.; exercise, 10 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; unlucky 7s and pinochle, 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday - Board games, 9 a.m.; 10 Keys program, 10 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; nickel bingo, 1 p.m.

Thursday - News and coffee, 9:30 a.m.; exercise, 10 a.m.; horseshoe competition, 11 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; unlucky 7s and pinochle, 12:30 p.m.

Friday - Breakfast, 9 a.m.; 10 Keys program, 10 a.m.; lunch, 11;45 a.m.; Pokeno, 1 p.m.

Kulpmont

Monday - Closed. Memorial Day.

Tuesday - Coffee and gab in the morning; bean bag, 10:30 a.m.; Wii bowling, 11 a.m.; cards, noon.

Wednesday - Handheld games and puzzles in the morning; Wii bowling, 10 a.m.; exercise, 10:30 a.m.; LCR, 12:30 p.m.

Thursday - Coffee and gab in the morning; handheld games, 9:30 a.m.; Wii bowling, 10 a.m.; Tara Venna speaking on summer safety tips, noon; bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Friday - Wii bowling and bean bag in the morning; hand held games, 10 a.m.; puzzles, 10:30 a.m.; Wii bowling, 11 a.m.; Dr. Gofoot speaking on arthritis, joint pain and when it's time for surgery, noon; nickel bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Centralia-Wilburton

Monday - Closed. Memorial Day.

Tuesday - Coffee and snacks, 9 a.m.; chair exercise with Carol, 10:30 a.m.; word games, 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday - Coffee and English muffins, 9 a.m.; center, left, right game, 10:30 a.m.; prize bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Thursday - Coffee and snacks, 9 a.m.; Pokeno, 10:30 a.m.; bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Friday - Fun Friday! Open activities.

Elysburg

Monday - Closed. Memorial Day.

Wednesday - Healthy Steps, 8:30 a.m.; royal rummy, 10 a.m.; bingo, noon.

Friday - Crafts, 9:30 a.m.; pinochle, noon.

Trevorton

Monday - Closed. Memorial Day.

Tuesday - Exercise, 10 a.m.; Rummikub, 10:30 a.m.; Walmart shopping, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; pinochle, 12:30 p.m.; evening bingo, 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday - Exercise, 10 a.m.; Scrabble, 10:30 a.m.; unlucky 7s, 12:30 p.m.

Thursday - Exercise, 10 a.m.; Uno, 10:30 a.m.; pinochle, 12:30 p.m.

Friday - Wii games, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.; exercise, 10:30 a.m.; bingo, 12:30 p.m.

CLEVELAND TOWNSHIP - Police are searching for answers on a fire that destroyed a house trailer early Saturday morning.

Locust Township Police Chief Allen Breach reported Saturday that a witness, on his way to do some turkey hunting at 4:55 a.m., called in a report of a fire at 114 Madison Drive. By the time fire crews arrived, the trailer was consumed by fire and it was "on the ground" at the time of discovery.

Police say the trailer was vacant, and had not been lived in for the past few years.

Crews from the Valley Chemical Fire Company, Catawissa Hose Company, Aristes Fire Company and the Elysburg Fire Company Ambulance responded to the scene.

Breach said authorities are attempting to contact the last known owner, identified as Bradley Desenberg, of Shamokin. Anyone with a correct phone number for that individual or who may have witnessed any suspicious activity recently in the area of Madison Drive is asked to contact police at 570-799-5806.

Police are also asking residents to call 911 immediately if they observe any suspicious activity near them.

SHAMOKIN - Once again, the Anthracite Heritage Festival of the Arts benefited from picture-perfect weather, bringing the crowds to Market Street.

With art and nature exhibits, tours, entertainment and food and craft vendors galore, the 10th anniversary of the festival, presented by the Northumberland County Council for the Arts and Humanities, went off without a hitch.

"We've always been blessed with great weather, and today is no exception,' said NCCAH director Jeanne Shaffer. "Not a cloud in the sky."

With sunny skies, temperatures in the 60s and a slight breeze blowing, it felt a little more like a fall festival when the day started at 10 a.m., but by the afternoon, Market Street began to fill up.

"This is one of my favorite days of the year," said Tom Kutza, who was broadcasting live from the festival on 1480WISL.com and opening up the AM transmitter for Saturday's event. "It's great to see all the people and do interviews live and shake a few hands as well."

One change in the planning of this year's festival was moving the entertainment stage from Arch Street to Chestnut.

"I think moving the stage was a big success this year," Shaffer said. "It's right in the heart of everything going on."

The stage featured entertainment by pianist Seth Barrett, the Covered Bridge Cloggers, Motivation Station and the musical group Haela.

A highlight of the day was the festival's first "Talent Showcase," which featured performances by young singers Angelina and Alexa Fariello, a duet by Nicholas Sandri and Lindsay Dunn, a dance routine by Emilia Novlan, martial arts demonstrations from the Center of Movement Arts of Shamokin and vocalist Nedra Templar accompanied by Vic Boris, who served as master of ceremonies for the event.

"There is some great young talent here today," Boris said on stage. "It's wonderful."

All in all, the 10th annual Anthracite Heritage Festival of the Arts had a little something for everyone.

But festival organizers are not content to rest on their laurels, not even for a little while. Shaffer said planning will begin soon for the 11th edition of the festival, which will mark the 10th anniversary of the festival parade.Seth Barrett, 15, of Elysburg, impresses a morning crowd with his flying fingers. Avery Humes, 6, is delighted to hold a grasshopper at a booth hosted by Ryan "The Bug Man" Bridge.

In memory

Dixie Richardson by Betsy Richardson.

Patricia C. Rosini and James J. Rosini by Paige Rosini.

Lewis and Gladys Delbaugh, Les and Hellen Mensch and Lewis Delbaugh Jr. by Gail Mensch.

Charles Walter by Linsey and family.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Irish Isle Provision Company, Inc., 911 W. Arch St., has quietly started something new by making whole rotisserie chickens and barbecue ribs for takeout.

"We started slow and people who got them were happy with them," said owner Earl Sheriff. "We didn't advertise them and let word of mouth do the work. We wanted to start off small to get it going."

Sheriff advises customers who would like a rotisserie chicken for lunch or dinner to call and place an order as they take two and one-half half hours to make.

Irish Isle uses its own marinade for the chickens, and Sheriff is getting into more imported cheeses, including Pecorino Romano, Locatelli and Parmigiano Reggiano, among others.

"If there is anything people are looking for, I have access to get it," Sheriff said about the cheeses.

Irish Isle also makes its own ring baloney, kielbasa and sausages in many flavors, as well as ready-to-eat hoagies.

With grilling season upon us, Sheriff reminds customers that Irish Isle is a one-stop shop for grilling.

Sheriff also plans to make additions to the mural that is painted on the side of his building. New subjects will include the Shamokin Yellow Cab, he said.

To order a rotisserie chicken or for more information, call Irish Isle Provision Company, Inc. at 570-648-6893. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday.

SHAMOKIN - What many people like about the Anthracite Heritage Festival of the Arts is the many choices of tasty foods or the opportunity to browse through the arts and crafts.

But for those who run the stands on Market Street, the festival is a great way to earn income for their businesses, see some old friends or raise money for their charitable causes.

Phil Miccio, of Bloomsburg, owner of Phil's Steaks, has been serving his rib-eye steak sandwiches at the Shamokin festival since the first one in 2005.

"We love coming here. This is my favorite show that we do," said worker Brandon Conrad, who is Miccio's nephew.

"It's a good day. We always bring a moderate amount of food, and we sell quite a bit of it, if not sell out, year after year," Miccio said.

When the festival is in full swing, the lines for Phil's Steaks get longer and longer.

"I have to come for one of these steak sandwiches every year," said James Coleman, of Coal Run. "It's a tradition."

For Ron McElwee, the 2015 festival marked the debut of his business, "Crue's Poppin Peppers," a stuffed pepper business.

McElwee had worked the festival before, as part of Coal City Revitalization Inc., but Saturday, he introduced his new culinary creation to the masses.

"It was something I made for parties and family gatherings and many people wanted more of them," McElwee said. "We kept tweaking the recipe, and the family got involved in making the product."

McElwee brought samples for the public to try, and sold three varieties, hot, mild, and one called "Russian Roulette."

"We came up with the idea and the technique that wouldn't be able to tell through the smell which is the mild and which is the hot ones. I have to give credit to Scott Fabrizio for the name," McElwee said.

However all the samples and talk about the product didn't draw as much attention as McElwee's standmate, his 7½-month-old son, Crue.

"He's the best salesman I've ever had," McElwee joked.

While some come to the festival looking for profit, the volunteers working the many food stands, such as the volunteers at Our Lady of Hope Church, come away with a feeling of satisfaction for their work.

"This is truly a team effort from our church," said volunteer Bob Wislock. "We are currently on our second shift of people frying potato cakes and serving the ethnic food."

With a menu of halupki, haluski and potato cakes, crowds lined up for a taste of the ethnic foods they grew up with in the coal region.

"This is our fifth year here at the festival and the support of the public has really been a blessing to our church," Wislock said. "From the people that prepared the food ahead of time, to the cooks we have here now, everyone is working together for Our Lady of Hope."

Last week in Starwatch, I attempted to explain the tricks for finding Ursa Major, the Big Bear and Ursa Minor, the Little Bear in our skies. The Little Bear and the famous Little Dipper are one and the same, and the Big Dipper makes up the rear end and tail of the Big Bear, Ursa Major, which is the brightest part of the Big Bear. Both bears are now riding high in the northern sky.

The story of how the bears got into the sky is one of my favorite tales (or tails). Like all astronomical mythology, there are many different versions for each constellation, and I know of at least a dozen stories about Ursa Major and Ursa Minor. My favorite story, from Greek mythology, involves a beautiful young woman named Callisto and her son Arcus. I have to warn mythology purists out there that I take poetic license with these stories and bring them up to date. Is there really such a thing as the correct mythology anyway?

Callisto was a beautiful young woman in her late 20s, who tragically became a widow and single mom when her husband was killed in a war. Fortunately, she had a pretty good job and she worked really hard at it. Callisto was also very fortunate because Arcus, her wonderful eight-year-old son, really helped out his mom around the house and made life a little easier for her. He even made supper for her some nights.

Even with all the help, Callisto worked very hard both at home and work, and on Saturday mornings, she treated herself by heading down to a nearby lake where she would sit on a park bench and feed the ducks. She found that very relaxing.

One bright sunny morning as she was enjoying life with her ducky friends, Zeus, the king of the gods, was taking a stroll around that same lake. Without a doubt, he was quite a hunky god and was legendary for being a ladies man. Zeus gave Callisto a $1 million smile and then talked her into a cup of coffee at a local bistro and sweet-talked her some more. A few days later, they went to the movies, and the next Saturday, they made plans to go to a local amusement park. All of this would have been just fine, but Zeus was already engaged to marry the goddess Hera.

One thing you don't do is tick off Hera. She was furious when she found out about Zeus's love adventures. After all, she already had the flowers ordered for her wedding day and had the VFW hall reserved for the reception. Then, Hera found out about Zeus's plans at the amusement park that coming Saturday and decided to give him a huge surprise.

Hera arrived at the park as soon as it opened on Saturday morning and hid in the bushes next to the giant roller coaster. Later that morning, along came Zeus and Callisto, arm in arm. When they got close enough, Hera jumped out of the bushes, held up her magic finger, pointed at Callisto, and turned her into a big bear. This caused quite a commotion. Security was summoned and took chase after Callisto. She was desperate to get away and found a hole in the fence. On all fours she shot into the nearby woods to live the life of a bear. Meanwhile, Hera dragged Zeus away by his ear.

Tragically, Arcus was left without a mother or a father. He didn't know what happened to his mother, just that she disappeared. As sad as that was, life went on and Arcus moved in with relatives and grew up to become of all things, a professional game hunter.

One day, Arcus was out in the woods with his new bow and arrow set, when he saw a giant female bear saunter his way. Yes, it was the same bear that ran out of the amusement park years earlier. Arcus didn't know anything about that and raised his bow to shoot his own mother. Talk about Greek tragedy.

As luck would have it, Zeus was taking a stroll through the woods at that same time and ran into this scene. He recognized the bear from that ugly Saturday morning by the roller coaster and also recognized Arcus as a grown man. He tried to convince Arcus that the bear that he was about to shoot was actually his mother. Arcus was having a hard time swallowing that and took aim. Zeus couldn't let that happen, so out of desperation, just before the arrow left the bow, the king of the gods took his magic finger, pointed it at Arcus, and turned him into a little bear. Arcus recognized his mother and they gave each other big bear hugs.

While this was happening, Hera, still angry after all those years, was watching from afar and became totally enraged. Fire was shooting from her ears as she swooped down from Mount Olympus. Zeus figured he better do something to defuse the situation. He thought if he at least got rid of the bears it might save his hide. So Zeus reached down and grabbed both bears by their tails. Then, with his godly strength, he launched the bears into the northern sky and they magically became the constellations we see every night, forever safe from Hera and her temper.

You can't help but notice that Ursa Major and Minor have really long tails, more like squirrels than bears. But hey, your tail would be stretched out too if someone heaved you into the heavens by your tail. And that's what I call the tale of the tails.

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

Seth Barrett, 15, of Elysburg, impresses a morning crowd with his flying fingers. Avery Humes, 6, is delighted to hold a grasshopper at a booth hosted by Ryan "The Bug Man" Bridge.

SHAMOKIN - Travelers on the Edison Trolley Tour Saturday were introduced to the sites in Shamokin where Thomas Edison traveled and worked, en route to his becoming one of America's most prolific inventors.

Tour guide Dolores Splane and driver Bryan Deklinski escorted sightseers through the streets of Shamokin, giving them information not only about the buildings Edison made famous, but of many of the town's churches.

The tour began on Market Street and headed onto Sunbury Street from Commerce, where Splane pointed out the grassy area between the two walls that split Commerce Street.

"That area was where the tracks of the Pennsylvania Railroad ran," Splane said.

While the trolley made its way down Sunbury Street, Splane talked about the places of worship it passed, including the former B'Nai Israel Synagogue, now the Shamokin Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Trinity Lutheran Church, First Presbyterian Church and First United Methodist Church.

Soon the tour passed the Harold E. Thomas High Rise, an important site for Edison.

"The McConnell Mansion, on this site," Splane said, "was where 'Aunt Kitty' Katherine McConnell allowed Edison to wire her kitchen for electricity. However, she didn't trust the wiring to be put in her walls, so they had the wiring placed on the outside of the walls."

The next stop was Rock and Sunbury streets, where the first floor of the Douty Building became the first commercial location to be wired for electricity in Shamokin.

Further down the Edison tour, the talk of Thomas Edison and churches merged as the trolley approached Mother Cabrini Church, formerly known as St. Edward's Church.

"This became the first church to be wired for electricity," Splane said on the tour.

Some sources dispute the claim, saying St. Edward Church was not the first church to use electricity, but the first to use the three-wire distribution system.

Even though Mother Cabrini retains its historic distinction, any trace of Edison's work was destroyed in the April 1971 fire at the former St. Edward Church.

The final stop on the tour was the current location of Jones Hardware on Independence Street, which was the home of the Edison Illumination Company in Shamokin in August 1883.

"If you look at the top of the building, you can see a plaque that acknowledges Edison's work here," Splane said.

The tour ended with a drive down Independence Street, renamed "Electric Avenue" Saturday by city Mayor William Milbrand because of the festival.

The trolley tour, which was added this year, joined another trolley tour of the Coal Township-Edgewood park area and a horse-and-carriage tour of Shamokin.

SUNBURY - The seven employees of the Northumberland County Weatherization Department at risk of losing their jobs June 30 have filed an unfair labor practice charge against Northumberland County.

Von Treas, the local union representative for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, told The (Sunbury) Daily Item that the papers were sent to the Pennsylvania State Labor Relations Board Friday.

Treas also said that the union met with county human resource director Joe Picarelli, department head Pat Mack and labor attorney Ben Pratt for two hours on May 13 to discuss the closure.

Department coordinator Dwayne Scicchitano, and six employees, Pamela Bollinger, Robert McAndrew, David Yakoboski, Barry Schweitzer, Jim Bressi and Albert Benedict Jr. filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court May 1. They have accused County Commissioner Vinny Clausi of retaliation and violating the state's whistleblower law.

The filing comes as both sides prepare for an injunction hearing in federal court June 4 on a restraining order against the county to stop the closure until the employees civil hearing can be done. On May 11, Judge Matthew Brann denied the employees a temporary restraining order, since that order would only last 10 days.

The lawsuit asks a judge to halt the privatization of the weatherization department until the lawsuit is completed. Commissioners voted 2-1 April 7 to close the department and transfer services to SEDA-COG, effective June 30. Commissioner Richard Shoch dissented while Vinny Clausi and Stephen Bridy voted yes.

The suit alleges Clausi demanded the county weatherization department perform services for a relative and friend who did not meet requirements and when employees tried to report the issue, he cut the department.

A Feb. 9 letter from the state Attorney General's office stated "as a result of our investigation, it appears that no criminal activity could be proven against Mr. Clausi or any other person as a result of this incident." The investigation was sent to the state by District Attorney Ann Targonski at Clausi's demand in order to clear his name.

WILLIAMSPORT - A federal court has thrown out two federal lawsuits filed by inmates in the Northumberland County Prison.

A 2012 lawsuit filed by Erick Trometter and a 2009 suit by Nathan Reigle were dismissed earlier this month by judges in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

Both suits were dismissed for the same reason - lack of filings by the plaintiffs for the case to proceed.

Trometter, 23, filed his suit in 2012 while a prisoner in the Northumberland County Prison, alleging that he was abused physically by guards after being accused of throwing water with another individual out of their cells. He filed suit against then-Warden Roy Johnson, Deputy Warden Brian Wheary, prison sergeants Krista Brouse and Joe Moore and corrections officers Jason Greek, William Reber and another unnamed officer and a nurse, "Jane Doe."

Johnson was dismissed from the case in September 2013. In a memorandum dismissing the suit, U.S. District Judge Richard Conaboy wrote Trometter was released from the prison Sept. 11, 2013. However, he had not provided the court with a current address and a HIPAA authorization for his alleged injuries.

"Since Trometter's present whereabouts are unknown, it would be a waste of judicial resources to allow this action to continue," Conaboy wrote.

The court said it would reconsider their determination if Trometter provided the court with his current address within a reasonable period. He is currently incarcerated at SCI-Coal Township facing charges of aggravated assault in two separate cases: assaulting his grandmother July 8, 2014, at their home in Sunbury and wielding a knife in a confrontation with Sunbury Police Chief Brad Hare on Mile Post Road later the same day. When Trometter did not respond to verbal commands or the use of a Taser, Hare shot Trometter in the leg, injuring him.

Reigle

Reigle filed his lawsuit in September 2009 against then-county prison warden Ralph "Rick" Reish, Lt. Jim Smink, and other prison officials. He claimed to have been denied dental, psychological and medical care while in prison and retaliated against when reporting grievances to the Lewisburg Prison Project.

Mirroring Trometter's case, Reigle failed to give the court his address to allow the case to proceed when released in January 2015, despite motions to compel filed by the defendants. U.S. District Judge Yvette Kane wrote in her opinion that due to Reigle's repeated delays of the discovery process, she dismissed the case for failure to prosecute.

Currently, Reigle is a co-plaintiff in a 2014 suit with inmate Charles Picarella against Warden Roy Johnson, Wheary and the members of the Northumberland County Prison Board.

Picarella and Reigle claimed that prison official denied them outside reading material, visitation rights, exercise privileges and access to the prison law library and subjected them to abuse through the conditions of their cells.

The last motion in the case, filed by the defendants April 16, was for the defendants to talk to Picarella through deposition at SCI-Benner, where he is serving a sentence on drug charges.

READING - UGI Utilities Inc. has donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross to sponsor the Home Fire Preparedness Campaign within UGI's service area in eastern and central Pennsylvania.

The campaign addresses common causes of residential fires and helps families and individuals prevent and prepare for these events. Home fires impact more people across the county each year than all other natural disasters combined, and the Red Cross program will include more than 3,000 home visits to install smoke alarms and replace batteries, complete home safety checklists and help families develop an escape plan.

"UGI is pleased to provide this contribution to the American Red Cross," said Robert F. Beard, president and CEO of UGI. "The Home Fire Preparedness Campaign will help residents across UGI's service territory prepare for home fire emergencies and to install home smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. We are very pleased to continue our partnership with the American Red Cross through support of this program which will benefit so many Pennsylvania residents."

American Red Cross officials stressed the importance of UGI's donation in helping expand their services in the region.

"The American Red Cross responds to a disaster every eight minutes and nearly all of these are home fires," Judge (Ret.) Renee Caldwell Hughes, CEO of American Red Cross of Eastern Pennsylvania, explained. "UGI's continued support, along with this generous donation, helps to ensure that the Red Cross can immediately respond to the needs of people impacted by disaster across our region."

Ellen Kyzer, CEO of American Red Cross of Central Pennsylvania, emphasized the importance of residents being prepared for home fires. "Home fires can be a deadly threat because they happen so quickly," Kyzer said. "We urge everyone to take two simple steps that can save lives: install smoke alarms and have a family escape plan. UGI's gift will expand the breadth and depth of our outreach for this live saving campaign."

Volunteers needed for pantry

MOUNT CARMEL - The Mount Carmel Area Food Pantry, 26 N. Market St., urgently needs volunteers with trucks to meet at the pantry at 10 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to go to places like Walmart and Weis to pick up and unpack food supplies. For more information, call 570-339 3439.

Jazz band concert Thursday

MOUNT CARMEL - The Mount Carmel Area High School Jazz Band will present its annual spring concert at 7 p.m. Thursday in the high school auditorium.

The jazz band will perform such classics as Glenn Miller's "In The Mood," John LaBarbera's "Dancing Men," a new arrangement of "Uptown Funk," made famous by Bruno Mars, and others.

The concert will feature many student soloists including senior Joanna Rompallo, tenor saxophone, playing the standard "My Funny Valentine," and senior Christopher Stellar, trumpet, playing the classic "My Way."

The jazz band is under the direction of Bernard Stellar, superintendent. Admission is free.

HARRISBURG - The public is encouraged to visit www.TalkPATransportation.com to provide their input on transportation priorities for the update of the commonwealth's Twelve Year Transportation Program before the survey closes Friday.

PennDOT and the State Transportation Commission (STC) request public feedback on transportation priorities and specific issues by completing an online survey.

To access a survey, go to www.TalkPATransportation.com and select "Tell Us What You Think" or request a printed survey by email at ra-penndotstc@pa.gov or by phone at 717-787-2913

"We want to ensure that we're meeting the needs of our customers," said PennDOT Secretary and STC Chairwoman Leslie S. Richards. "This online survey provides an easy and accessible way for the public to help shape Pennsylvania's transportation future and I strongly encourage everyone to participate and become part of the transportation planning process in PA."

To date, more than 2,100 citizens have participated and identified almost 7,000 specific transportation needs across the state. According to the preliminary survey results, Pennsylvanians' top three priorities for transportation investment are to preserve, rebuild, and replace aging bridges; reduce fatalities through safety and infrastructure improvements, and improve pavement quality and conditions.

The Twelve Year Transportation Program, which serves as a blueprint of prioritized transportation projects, is updated every two years through a cooperative effort among the State Transportation Commission (STC), PennDOT and its 24 regional planning partners. The goal is to enable all Pennsylvanians to contribute their priorities and suggestions.

The STC evaluates and assesses the resources needed to maintain and expand the State's transportation system. The 15-member Commission includes Richards, 10 private citizens appointed by the governor, and the majority and minority chairs of the State Senate and House Transportation Committees.

The Student of the Month is senior Ciaran Fisher, a son of Lawrence and Jennifer Fisher, of Marion Heights. Ciaran is a member of both the cross country and track teams and is an altar server at Holy Angels Parish in Kulpmont. He enjoys playing baseball, basketball and playing Xbox. In his spare time, Ciaran also likes running, driving and spending time with his friends. His future plans are to attend Susquehanna University to further his track and field career and also major in computer science or physics.

The Junior Student of the Month is junior Madison Shurock, a daughter of Brian and Melissa Shurock, of Den Mar Gardens. Maddie is a varsity football and basketball cheerleader, and is a member of the Spanish, Pep, Yearbook, FBLA, FTA and ski clubs. She is also a writer, reporter and anchor for MCA-LIVE. Maddie is a previous Elks Award and Junior High Pride Award winner, is on the distinguished honor roll and is a member of the National Honor Society. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, cooking, baking and shopping. Maddie's future plans are to attend college to become a nurse.

The Teenager of the Month is freshman Myia Miriello, a daughter of Joe and Marcy Miriello, of Marion Heights. Myia is a member of the soccer, basketball and track and field teams. She is also a member of the TV Studio, a Think Big student leader and the treasurer for the freshman class. In her spare time, Myia enjoys reading, playing sports and spending time with her family and friends. Myia's future plans are to attend a four-year college to major in physical therapy.

The Junior Teen of the Month is seventh-grade student Brock Evert, a son of Curt and Shannon Evert, of Mount Carmel. Brock is a member of the junior high football, junior high basketball and Mount Carmel Lions basketball teams. He is a previous recipient of the Junior High Pride Award, a member of student council and is on the honor roll. Brock is also an altar server at Divine Redeemer Church. In his free time, Brock enjoys playing sports and spending time with his friends. His future plans are to attend college to study physical therapy or sports medicine.

MOUNT CARMEL - A meeting was held at the Lithuanian Social Club May 13, when the James A. Garfield Camp No. 34, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUV), announced its activities for the Memorial Day holiday.

On May 20, members of the camp were at the Mount Carmel Cemetery to decorate the graves of more than 200 Civil War and Spanish-American War veterans. Other cemeteries to be decorated are Saint Mary's Cemetery, Saint Joseph's Cemetery in Locust Gap and the former Oak Hill Cemetery, which is now part of the Mount Carmel Cemetery.

On Sunday, the Changing of the Colors flag ceremony was held in honor and memory of Daniel Strausser, who served as a corporal with Company H, 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry.

Today, a service will be held in Mount Carmel Cemetery. This year the service will be held at the grave of Jared Kline who served as a private with Company D, 48th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry and with Company E, 4th Regiment, U.S. Light Artillery. Re-enactors of the 149th Regiment, PVI, the Bucktails, will participate in the service.

Elijah Watkins, a junior member of the camp, was inducted as a regular member as he has attained the age of 14 years. Males age 14 years and older are eligible for membership in the SUV. Junior membership is for those ages six to 13.

In other matters, the camp made a $100 donation for the restoration of the Soldiers Monument in the Soldiers National Cemetery in Gettysburg. Dedicated in 1869, the monument is in need of repairs due to its age and erosion.

The 135th Encampment of the Pennsylvania Department will be held June 18 to 21 at the Genetti Hotel and Conference Center in Williamsport. The national encampment will be held in Richmond, Va., Aug. 20 to 23, and is hosted by the Department of the Chesapeake.

The next meeting of Garfield Camp will be at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, at the Lithuanian Social Club. Those interested in learning more about the camp or SUVCW can contact Commander David Berezovske at 570-205-4818.

SHAMOKIN - A nice crowd turned out Monday morning to honor all veterans, including those who sacrificed their lives for their country, at the annual Memorial Day March and Service organized by area veterans organizations, Shamokin and Coal Township fire and police departments.

The festivities began at 9 a.m. with a parade that formed at Arch and Locust streets in Coal Township. Marchers moved to the Timothy Diorio Memorial on Cliff Street in Coal Township, the Cpl. David Witmer Memorial at Independence and Sixth streets, and the Fireman's Memorial at Independence and Market streets, where wreath laying ceremonies and brief services were conducted.

Participants then marched to the Veterans Price of Freedom Memorial on Lincoln Street for the main service.

John Schenewerk, commander of Coal Township VFW Post 317 who served as master of ceremonies, provided a history of some of the major wars veterans have fought in and thanked everyone for showing their patriotism.

Shamokin Area High School Band under the direction of Kevin Styer played several patriotic songs, including the national anthem.

The Rev. Karyn Fisher, pastor of St. John's United Methodist Church, gave the invocation and benediction.

Robert Nairns, a 1958 graduate of Shamokin High School and United States Air Force veteran, served as guest speaker.

Narins, who served at Sawyer Air Force Base in Michigan and in Tripoli, North Africa, presented brief remarks before joining Schenewerk in reading off the names of members of Coal Township VFW Post 317, Shamokin American Legion Post 73 and Amvets Post 80 who died during the past year.

As each name was called, a bell was tolled.

Veterans John Arnold of Coal Township VFW Post 317 and Brian Wolfe of Shamokin American Legion Post 73 presented wreaths at the memorial.

Seth Lowe played taps and "Amazing Grace" on bagpipes.

Violet Feudale, of Shamokin American Legion Auxiliary Unit 73, talked about the history of "In Flanders Field," a war poem marking its 100th anniversary this year.

In his closing remarks, Schenewerk told the crowd to always remember veterans. He said, "Dying for your country isn't the worst thing that can happen, but being forgotten is."

In addition to Schenewerk, other members of the Memorial Day March Committee are Christopher Christian, John and Angie Arnold, and Sandra Schenewerk.

UGI Utilities is a natural gas and electric utility with headquarters in Reading. UGI serves 670,000 customers in 45 Pennsylvania counties and one county in Maryland. The Memorial Day Weekend marks the unofficial beginning of summer. UGI urges residents to stay safe and use energy wisely during the warmer months.

Natural gas grill safety:

- Before using your gas grill, clean the grill and perform a routine safety check. Check fuel line hoses for holes, cracks, brittleness, and leaks, and make sure there are no sharp bends in the hose or tubing.

- Use a flexible brush to remove loose debris from the casting sides and inside of the grill lid. Use a thin wire brush to gently clean the holes or ports of each burner.

- If a burner fails to light or if a lit burner unexpectedly goes out, turn off the grill immediately. Wait several minutes for any gas to dissipate before trying to relight.

- A natural gas burner flame should be primarily blue with a small yellow tip. If the flame does not have that appearance, have your grill checked by a qualified technician.

- Keep combustible materials such as paper products, linens and clothing away from burners.

- After you're done cooking, make sure all burners are turned off, as well as the valve on the natural gas supply.

- Keep the hood closed to prevent water from getting into the grill. Consider using a grill cover for added protection.

- If you smell gas or detect a leak, immediately turn off the gas and call a qualified technician to check the equipment. Do not attempt to light the grill until the leak is repaired.

- Never use a grill indoors. Make sure the grill is at least 10 feet away from your house or any structure. Do not use a grill in a garage, breezeway, carport, porch, or under a surface that can catch fire.

- Keep children and pets away from the grill area when it is in use.

- Keep your grill clean by removing grease and fat buildup from the grate and in trays below the grill.

- Never leave your grill unattended while in use.

Use energy safely every day:

- Use covers on outdoor power outlets, especially near swimming pools. Keep cords and electrical devices away from the water, and never handle electrical items before you've dried off.

- Use a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) to help prevent electrical shock injuries. These devices interrupt the flow of power when they sense a surge.

UGI reminds all individuals doing excavation work to call to 8-1-1 at least three days before starting a digging project to have underground utilities marked. Every digging project, no matter the size, warrants a call to 811. Installing a mailbox, putting in a fence, building a deck and even small projects like planting trees or shrubs are all examples of digging projects that require a call to 8-1-1 before starting. There is no charge for 8-1-1 requests.

Be aware that a harmless odor, which smells like rotten eggs, is added to natural gas to help detect a gas leak. If you smell the odor of natural gas, leave the building immediately taking everyone with you. Do not use the phone, light a match, or switch anything on or off. Once in a location where the odor of gas is no longer present, call UGI from your cell phone or neighbor's home. UGI's emergency response number is 1-800-276-2722. UGI will send a service technician to investigate the odor immediately. Emergency response is available 24-hours a day, every day. Your safety is always our top priority.

Summer storms can bring power outages. If you depend on medical equipment for life-support, we recommend that you purchase a back-up power supply during an emergency.

If you use a generator during an outage, please make sure it is used safely by following the manufacturer's instructions on proper venting and operation.

UGI also recommends customers prepare for potential power outages by creating an emergency outage kit, including flashlights with fresh batteries, non-perishable food that does not require heating, a first-aid kit and prescription medication, an extra set of keys and key contact information.

Using energy wisely:

- Install a programmable thermostat and raise the setting to the highest comfortable temperature. You can save three-to-five percent on your air conditioning costs for each degree you raise the thermostat.

- Close doors leading to uncooled parts of your home. If you have central air conditioning, close off vents to unused rooms. Keep filters clean.

- Even if you have air conditioning, use ceiling fans to provide additional cooling and better circulation.

- Seal holes and cracks around doors and windows. Eliminate air leaks around window air conditioners with foam insulation or weather-stripping.

- Close blinds, shades and draperies facing the sun to keep out the sun's heat and help fans and air conditioners cool more efficiently.

- Use timers and motion detectors on indoor and outdoor lighting.

- If possible, install whole-house fans that bring in cooler night-time air that can pre-cool a house and reduce energy use in the daytime if heat is kept out by closing windows and shades.

- Avoid placing lamps or TV sets near your room air-conditioning thermostat. The thermostat senses heat from these appliances, which can cause the air conditioner to run longer than necessary.

- Vacuum registers regularly to remove any dust buildup. Ensure that furniture and other objects are not blocking the airflow through your registers.

- Install efficient lighting that runs cooler. Only about 10 to 15 percent of the electricity that incandescent lights consume results in light-the rest is turned into heat.

Heat Wave safety:

- Older adults and people with chronic health problems should stay indoors and in the coolest available place.

- Wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothing and a hat or cap, keeping your neck covered. Apply sunscreen to exposed areas.

- Stay indoors, if possible. If air conditioning is not available, stay on the lowest floor, out of the sun.

- Remember: Electric fans don't cool the air, but they will cool the body by helping sweat evaporate.

- If possible, work or play in the cool hours of the day.

- Stay out of direct sun for long periods.

- Drink extra fluids, even if you don't feel thirsty, and avoid alcohol and caffeine.

Customers and community members are invited to visit the UGI web site at www.ugi.com; our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ugiutilities; or follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ugi_utilities.

Food distribution this weekend

ATLAS - The Mount Carmel Township food pantry will have its monthly distribution from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the township complex in Atlas, for those that signed up previously. Please bring bags as they are no longer provided.

Inattention and ADHD explored

SHAMOKIN - The challenges of paying attention and coping with ADHD will be discussed at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Lifetree Cafe event at Antioch Place, 531 N. Market Street.

The program, titled "How to Pay Attention: Tips from a Psychologist with ADHD," features a filmed interview with psychologist Kevin Park. Participants will discover practical tips for increasing their ability to pay attention and explore the challenges of ADHD.

"Our culture is a breeding ground for problems with inattention," Park said. "The average person can learn a lot of lessons from what ADHD people have to do to cope with everyday life."

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.