ELYSBURG - The Knoebel Family and the Carousel Organ Association of America (COAA) will again present a band organ rally featuring the "Happiest Music on Earth" Saturday and Sunday at the park. This year, registered rally attendees represent 19 U.S. states - as far away as California - Puerto Rico, Canada, England and The Netherlands.

From COAA's first Knoebels rally in 2004, park guests fell in love with COAA's music and COAA members fell in love with Knoebels. The organ-friendly park owns at least nine organs, five of which are in daily service providing a carnival atmosphere synonymous with amusement parks in the early 20th century, but seldom encountered in today's theme parks.

Throughout the rally weekend, the sound of organ music will fill all corners of the park with more vigor than usual, as owners of 23 trailer- or truck-mounted band organs and calliopes will descend upon the park. In addition, owners of smaller hand-cranked organs - the type utilized by organ grinders of the days of old - will bring 23 portable instruments to display their busking talents throughout the weekend. Interested park visitors may have the opportunity to try their skills as an organ grinder and receive an official organ grinder certificate.

Featured events include twice-daily crank-organ concerts, as well as a COAA Band performance with "Trudy," a one-of-a-kind hand-built 98-key concert organ. The COAA Band consists of members and guests accompanying Trudy on their own musical instruments, utilizing band parts made from the same musical score from which owner David Wasson created the music rolls which operate the organ.

Online: www.knoebels.com and www.coaa.us

Two years ago, Jerry Blasko, of Coal Township, was lying in a hospital bed awaiting a stent procedure after suffering a mild heart attack.

Now 90 years old, he completed the Anthracite Heritage Festival of the Arts 5K on May 26.

Blasko spent much of his life as a nurse and teacher. Ironically, when he needed rehabilitation after his hospital stay, his cardiac nurse happened to be one of his former students.

When he announced he would golf again, no one in his family were surprised. However, when he returned from the trip and said he had walked nine holes, they certainly were.

They were surprised, too, when he said he'd walk the 5K.

Blasko, a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, prepared to begin the race donning his baby blue cap, bright white sneakers, while his familiar whistle permeated the air. He looked around and remarked to his family that he did not see any other old geezers.

After 1 hour, 3 minutes, Blasko and his daughter, Karen Haile, approached the finish line. He raised his arms in response to the cheers of his instant fan club and family and even added a jovial jog at the end of his journey.

Blasko's cardiac nurse was one of the first to give him a hug. A few minutes later, he humbly accepted a medal for first place in his age group. He smiled, ate a banana and rushed off to his next Memorial Day event.

CW4 William Howal, U.S. Navy, retired March 1 after a 30-year career in the service.

Howal, son of William Howal, of Coal Township, and the late Dorothy Howal, graduated from Shamokin Area High School in 1981.

He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1982, beginning as a deck seaman. He became his ship's boatswain and also became a first lieutenant. He was commissioned a chief warrant officer in 1999.

Howal served aboard USS Portland LSD-37, USS San Bernardino LST-1189, USS Salvor ARS-52, USS Cimarron AO-177, USS Saipan LHA-2, USS Ashland LSD-48, USS Gunston Hall LSD-44 and USS Iwo Jima LHD-7.

He was stationed in Little Creek, Va., Sasebo, Japan, San Diego, Calif. and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

He resides in Chesapeake, Va., and is employed with Goal Line Athletics.

MOUNT CARMEL - There were 69 students of Mount Carmel Area School District who didn't miss a day of school in 2011-12.

The students were presented a Walmart gift card and perfect attendance certificate.

Kindergarten - Ava Chapman, Brynn Gasperetti, Kaden Hine and Dylan Lawler.

First grade - Christopher Derr, Alivia Miller, Michael Wasilewski and Angela Weng.

Second grade - Rayne Beury, Amelia Chapman, Krysta Kimsal, Summer Minnig and Devin Palek.

Third grade - Jacob Evans, Jacob Gilotti and Michael Reed.

Fourth grade - Tyler Barnhardt, Nathaniel Malkoski, Niklas Misner, Eliza Nevis, Emily Olszewskie, Dylan Pupo, William Savadge and Kassandra Troutman.

Fifth grade - Joshua Derr, Brock Evert, Miranda Fiamonicini, Danielle Hooper, Cyric Kasenych and Hunter Minnig.

Sixth grade - Logan Artman, Devon Edmondson, Mia Kaminsky, Karin Martinez, Ethan McLeod, Anthony Moser, Tiani Mowrer, Chloe Smith, Adam Weissinger, Aidan Wesloskie and Emily Wills.

Seventh grade - Carl Darrup, Nicole Hooper, Donald Malick, Zachary Miller, Hayley Palek, Kelsi Wayne and Lauren Zanni.

Eighth grade - Brandon Dauber, Dylan Fiamoncini, Kaeli Fletcher, Giavonna Fracalossi, Cameron Getty, Natasha Nevis, Joseph Rossi, Chantelle Skavery and Megan Troutman.

Ninth grade - Jennifer Bolick and Christopher Stellar.

10th grade - Bryce Fiamoncini, Desaree Malick and Taylor Stefovic.

11th grade - Alexandria McLeod.

12th grade - Heather Bolick, Maura Frash, Mikael Hause, Courtney Koschoff, Jeremy Schmoyer and Tiffany Yuskoski.

Devin T., 23, and Kelly M. (Kessler), 23, Anderson are being transferred to Fort Louis, Washington, on July 11 from Fort Drum in New York, where they have been since 2007.

The couple entered the U.S. Army in 2007, where they were originally stationed in New York. They were deployed to Afghanistan from December 2008 to December 2009. Devin Anderson was deployed again from June 2011 until March 2012, and Kelly Anderson was deployed from September 2011 to March 2012.

Devin Anderson is a sergeant specializing in ammunition, and Kelly Anderson is an E-4 specialist and a medic.

They were married March 20, 2010. They have a 1-year-old daughter, Lillian Grace.

In Washington, Devin Anderson will be pursuing a degree in physical training, and Kelly Anderson will be pursing a degree in nursing.

Devin Anderson is a son of Sherman and Laura Anderson, of Phoenix, Ariz., and graduated from Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Ariz. He completed his basic training at Fort Sill, Okla., and AIT at Fort Rucker, Ala.

Kelly Anderson is a daughter of Shirley and Tim Murphy, of Trevorton, and attended PA Leadership Charter School, graduating in January 2007. She completed her basic training in Fort Jackson. S.C., and AIT in Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School held its annual awards program honoring senior scholars May 23.

The following students were award winners:

Valedictorian: Rachel Davis.

Salutatorian: Elizabeth Korbich.

Lourdes Scholars whose cumulative academic average for four years is 95 percent or higher: Rachel Davis. Honor students whose cumulative academic average for four years is 90 percent or higher: Felicia Bartello, Aisha Bucanelli, Christina Jones, Elizabeth Korbich, Lauryn Leach, Molly Loftus, Grier Melick, Tristen Riegel, Alexandra Singh and Annie Stewart.

National Honor Society, Father Filippelli Chapter: Felicia Bartello, Rachel Davis, Christina Jones, Elizabeth Korbich, Lauryn Leach, Molly Loftus, Grier Melick, Tristen Riegel, Alexandra Singh and Annie Stewart.

French National Honor Society: Felicia Bartello, Rachel Davis, Christina Jones, Elizabeth Korbich, Lauryn Leach, Tristen Riegel and Annie Stewart.

Level 4 Pins: Felicia Bartello, Aisha Bucanelli, Rachel Davis, Elizabeth Korbich and Annie Stewart.

French 5 years: Tristen Reigel.

Spanish National Honor Society: Grier Melick and Caitlyn Persing.

Level 4 Pins: Devyn English, Grier Melick and Caitlyn Persing.

The Bishop's Gold Medal Religion Award presented annually to the senior attaining the highest accumulative average in religion for four years: Elizabeth Korbich.

The following students have earned the highest four-year cumulative averages in the following areas:

Art: Aisha Bucanelli.

English: Rachel Davis.

Family and consumer sciences: Christina Jones.

French: Rachel Davis.

Mathematics: Rachel Davis.

Music: Annie Stewart.

Science: Lauryn Leach.

Social studies: Elizabeth Korbich.

Spanish: Grier Melick.

The awards for highest and second highest average in individual subjects were presented to:

Religion IV: Annie Stewart, first; Elizabeth Korbich, second.

Advanced art: Rachel Davis and Devyn English, tied for first.

Career art: Aisha Bucanelli, first; Michael Feudale, second.

Graphic design: Aisha Bucanelli, first; Michael Feudale, second.

Business law: Annie Stewart, first; Elizabeth Korbich and Grier Melick, tied for second.

Computer applications II: Devyn English, first.

British literature (honors): Rachel Davis, first; Annie Stewart, second.

British literature (academic): Alexandra Singh, first; Molly Loftus, second.

Independent living: Elen O'Donnell and Cassondra Senoski, tied for first; Annie Seif, second.

Child development I: Lauryn Leach and Felicia Bartello, tied for first.

Child development II: Christina Jones, first.

French IV (honors): Rachel Davis, first; Elizabeth Korbich, tied for second with a junior.

Spanish IV (honors): Grier Melick, first; Caitlyn Persing and Devyn English, tied for second.

Physical education for boys: Grier Melick, first; Zachary Chesney, second.

Physical education for girls: Alexandra Singh, first; Lauryn Leach and Molly Loftus, tied for second.

Government/economics: Rachel Davis, first; Elizabeth Korbich, second.

Calculus: Alexandra Singh, first; Rachel Davis, Molly Loftus and Annie Stewart, three-way tie for second.

Statistics and probability: Alexandra Singh, first; Grier Melick, second.

Biology II (honors): Elizabeth Korbich, first; Lauryn Leach, second.

Physics: Annie Stewart, first; Lauryn Leach, second.

Psychology: Alexandra Singh, first; Christina Jones, second.

The following scholarships/awards were awarded:

Our Lady of Lourdes Alumni Association: Devyn English, Michael Feudale, and Erienne Strouse.

Our Lady of Lourdes Development Award: Tristen Riegel.

Edward S. Baker/Anthony E. Konopka Scholarship: Rachel Davis.

Parents Association at Lourdes Scholarship: Michael Feudale and Annie Seif.

National Scholar Athlete for Academic Excellence: Rachel Davis and Grier Melick.

Rev. Charles Persing Foreign Language Award: Caitlyn Persing.

Horatio Alger Association Scholarship: Christina Jones.

Leo A. Mulhall Prize: Elen O'Donnell.

News-Item Achiever Scholarship: Annie Stewart.

Northumberland County Recreation Committee 2011 Scholar Athlete Award: Rachel Davis.

Ray Tyo/St. Ferdinand Scholarship: Rachel Davis.

Kiwanis Club of Shamokin-Karl A. Hoffman Journalism Award: Aisha Bucanelli and Lauryn Leach.

Memorial awards were presented as follows:

Chris Berthelson Memorial Award for Loyalty and School Spirit: Christina Jones and Grier Melick.

Sylvia Cimino, Class of 1951 Memorial Award: Elen O'Donnell and Cassondra Senoski.

Vincent and Elvira DePiante Memorial Scholarship: Rachel Davis, Elizabeth Korbich, Lauryn Leach, Molly Loftus, Alexandra Singh and Annie Stewart.

Daniel C. Fabrizio, Class of 1982 Memorial Award: Annie Stewart.

Nicholas Girolami Memorial Scholarship: Lauryn Leach.

Laurie Ann Green Memorial Scholarship: Rachel Davis.

Joseph M. Jasicki Memorial Award for Chorus: Felicia Bartello.

Leon F. "Rusty" Kanaskie Scholar Athlete Award: Rachel Davis.

Dolores Oravitz-Kazar Memorial Scholarship: Felicia Bartello.

F. George Kenney Memorial Award: Alexandra Singh.

Helen A. Olsheskie Memorial Award: Christina Jones.

Knights of Columbus-Stanley Sobotor Memorial Award: Tristen Riegel.

Elizabeth R. Wisneski Memorial Scholarship: Elizabeth Korbich.

St. Francis Beneficial Society-Stanley Yodzio Memorial Award: Grier Melick.

Civic awards were presented as follows:

American Legion Post 73 and American Legion Auxiliary 73 Award: Michael Feudale.

Aqua Pennsylvania Science Achievement Award: Felicia Bartello.

Catholic Daughters of the Americas Award: Christina Jones.

Knights of Lithuania Council 156 Award: Elen O'Donnell.

Kulpmont Centennial Scholarship: Aisha Bucanelli.

Kulpmont Ladies Lions Club Award: Aisha Bucanelli.

Kulpmont Sportsman Club: Aisha Bucanelli.

Marion Heights Fire Company: Taylor Glassic.

Ralpho Area Woman's Club Award: Alexandra Singh.

Shamokin Area Lion's Club Award: Elen O'Donnell.

Divine Redeemer Parish Award: Tyler Wolfe.

Rev. John A. Szada Religion Award: Christina Jones.

Divine Redeemer Parish Council of Catholic Women Award: Christina Jones.

Divine Redeemer Parish Holy Name Society Award: Christina Jones.

Holy Angels Parish "Light of Christ" Award: Aisha Bucanelli.

Holy Angels Ladies Guild Award: Aisha Bucanelli.

Mother Cabrini Parish Award: Felicia Bartello and Elen O'Donnell.

Franciscan Friars Student Award: Felicia Bartello and Elen O'Donnell.

Our Lady of Hope Parish Religion Award: Michael Feudale.

Our Lady of Hope Parish Council of Catholic Women Award: Michael Feudale.

Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Parish Award: Alexandra Singh and Lauryn Leach.

Administration Academic Achievement Award: Valedictorian Rachel Davis and Salutatorian Elizabeth Korbich.

Administration Award for Character and Service: Christina Jones.

Principal's Leadership Award: Grier Melick.

Principal's Outstanding School Spirit Award: Alexandra Singh.

Certificates for participation in chorus were presented to: Felicia Bartello, Aisha Bucanelli, Rachel Davis, Devyn English, Christina Jones, Lauryn Leach, Annie Seif, Alexandra Singh and Annie Stewart.

The following senior student ambassadors were recognized: Rachel Davis, Christina Jones, Lauryn Leach, Molly Loftus, Grier Melick, Tristen Riegel, Alexandra Singh and Annie Stewart.

Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) Officer Awards: Lauryn Leach, president; Cassondra Senoski, vice president; Annie Stewart, secretary; Erienne Strouse, first aide, and Caitlyn Persing, second aide.

Certificates to the yearbook staff were presented to: Lauryn Leach, chief editor; Aisha Bucanelli, photographer, and Christina Jones, staff member.

Certificates for four years of service to the cafeteria: Taylor Glassic, Lauryn Leach, Tristen Riegel and Annie Seif.

The Class of 2012 presented school administrator Deacon Martin McCarthy with a check representing its gift to the school.

Class members have been accepted to 30 institutions of higher learning.

To date, the Class of 2012 has been offered $975,190 in the form of four-year renewable scholarships and grants from universities and colleges from which they have applied.

SUNBURY - Two communities received funds Tuesday to help them improve storm water systems.

The Northumberland County commissioners presented checks Tuesday to the communities. Marion Heights received $129,084, and Kulpmont received $94,655. The funds are from the county's Community Development Block Grant Entitlement (CDBG) program.

"It's a hard decision for us to pick CDBG projects because we never have enough money to give to them all, but these projects were the best, and we are happy to give the awards to Kulpmont and Marion Heights," said county Commissioner Vinny Clausi.

The Kulpmont project will focus on a section of Scott Street near Eighth Street, where surface water routinely inundates several homes. Catch basins and piping will be installed, capturing water and channeling it into the storm water collection system under Scott and Fir streets.

The total project cost is $130,000, of which the borough is providing $35,345. A contract for construction of the project is expected to be awarded later this month.

In Marion Heights, where the community's project will focus on Rosenthal Street, the plan had been complicated by joint ownership of the street - half owned by the borough, half owned by Mount Carmel Township.

Earlier this year, the two municipalities reached an agreement whereby the township will annex its portion of the street to Marion Heights, allowing the borough to upgrade the storm water system using CDBG funds and then access Pennsylvania Liquid Fuels funds for long-term maintenance.

The total cost of the storm water project is $197,645, of which Marion Heights is providing $68,561. The project is currently under design and a contract is expected to be awarded this summer.

Both projects were developed by SEDA-COG and the Northumberland County Planning Commission, which assists the Northumberland County commissioners in the administration of their CDBG program.

Walking tour of borough set

MOUNT CARMEL - Mayor J. Kevin Jones has scheduled his annual walking tour of the borough to identify code violations and other concerns: First Ward, June 18; Second Ward, June 19; Third Ward, June 25; Fourth Ward, June 26.

Community service to meet Saturday

COAL TOWNSHIP - Members of Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III's community service group will meet at 9 a.m. Saturday in the parking lot of the Coal Bowl, Logan and Tioga streets.

Free lunch begins June 18

COAL TOWNSHIP - Shamokin Area School District's annual free lunch program begins June 18.

Meals will be served from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday through Aug. 9 at the elementary annex and middle/high school. There will be no lunch July 4.

All children under 18 will be served.

Paving continues

CONYNGHAM TOWNSHIP - A 1.9-mile section of Route 42 between Centralia and Aristes is being resurfaced.

The project will take place from Route 61 and Big Mine Run Road in Centralia to Ringtown Road in Aristes. Single-lane closures will be used during daytime hours.

The $734,391 project is expected to be completed in early August, pending completion of a previous water utility project in Aristes.

SUNBURY - There will be no further filing in federal court in a lawsuit against the Northumberland County Prison, the warden announced Wednesday.

A final inspection was held in the last week of April and the case will still be under the court's review until the end of July, but Lewisburg Prison Project agreed to file nothing further, said Warden Roy Johnson during his warden report at the 10-minute prison board meeting Wednesday morning.

It was announced May 12 that the prison earned a certificate of accreditation from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) for its compliance with the organization's standards for health service in jail.

The suit was prompted by Lewisburg Prison Project on behalf of inmates who complained of inadequate health care and unsafe housing conditions.

A $1.5 million settlement was reached in 2010, and the county upgraded the building and improved health care by hiring Prime Care Medical Inc., Harrisburg.

The Lewisburg Prison Project is a non-profit inmate advocacy group.

In other business

Northumberland County Commissioner and prison board member Vinny Clausi requested more information regarding the payroll report from Johnson.

Last month, Clausi asked Johnson to include last year's overtime figures, with which the warden complied. This month, Clausi asked for the difference between the current figures and last year's figures to be included in the report to determine if the prison is over or under budget compared to last year.

As of May 23, there were 86 hours of overtime reported, costing the county $1,721.65. Last year in the same time period, there were 206 hours of overtime, costing the county $3,713.78.

"I will be monitoring this every month," Clausi said.

A 29-minute executive session was held in the middle of the meeting to discuss personnel and medical issues pertaining to an inmate.

by peter e. bortner

SCRANTON - Mary Beth Semerod stole more than $205,000 from the human service agency she once headed, and must spend two years behind prison bars because of it, a federal judge decided Tuesday.

"What's right is right and has to be done," Senior U.S. District Judge Edwin M. Kosik said in sentencing Semerod, 57, of Pottsville, to serve two years in a federal correctional institution, plus two more years on supervised release, for stealing $205,883 from the now-closed Rape & Victim Assistance Center of Schuylkill County while serving as its executive director.

Kosik, who made the sentence effective at 2 p.m. Aug. 23, also ordered Semerod to pay restitution of $205,883, plus a $100 special assessment. He rejected the pleas for leniency made by Semerod, who served as the center's executive director and apologized for what she did to both her family and the agency.

Dismissed 2008

"There are no good reasons, ever, that can justify" her actions, a solemn Semerod told Kosik during the 75-minute hearing at the William J. Nealon Federal Building. "I affected the lives of people whom I loved. I am sorry that these actions ... caused these kinds of pain."

Semerod's actions, prosecutors alleged and the defendant admitted, consisted of stealing the money between June 2006 and June 2008 from the center, which closed in 2009. Semerod was dismissed from her position in October 2008.

Semerod, whom a federal grand jury indicted Oct. 26, 2010, pleaded guilty Nov. 17, 2011, to theft from a program receiving federal funds. The center received about $250,000 in federal grant funds from the U.S. Department of Justice since 2005, through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, according to a spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney Peter J. Smith. The funds were intended to be used for support of alleged victims of crimes against women, according to the spokeswoman.

The Lebanon-based Sexual Assault Resource & Counseling Center has taken over the functions of the organization Semerod once headed.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. Gurganus Jr. successfully argued for a prison term, saying Semerod's crime played a large role in the Rape & Victim Assistance Center ceasing operations.

"This was an embezzlement scheme that happened over the course of a couple years. It was not a single occurrence," Gurganus said. "It was committed with planning and it was not of limited duration. It was very serious."

Such conduct could not appropriately be punished by anything short of imprisonment, he said.

"There has to be punishment for it. There has to be deterrence," Gurganus said. "We submit that a sentence of probation would not reflect the seriousness of the offense."

'Loved that work'

Furthermore, Semerod used the money for department store bills, not merely for necessary expenses or a "meager lifestyle," as Assistant Federal Public Defender Hervery B.O. Young, Semerod's lawyer, had called it.

Young had asked Kosik not to send his client to prison, saying she had no real possibility of committing further crimes, has obtained a master's degree in social work and would be better able to pay her restitution if allowed to remain free and work.

"We believe that there are extraordinary circumstances" that justify no prison term, Young said.

Young said Semerod's crime was an isolated incident and not indicative of her life.

"This was one incident of conduct. It is totally out of character for who (she) is," Young said of his client.

Young urged Kosik to look at Semerod's entire career with the Rape & Victim Assistance Center, which he said she had the desire and compassion, but not the overall ability, to handle.

"This job was a real first opportunity for a career for her. She had a passion for helping the clientele," he said. "She jumped into ... a position that she truly did not have the skillset to do."

Semerod also said she missed heading the agency.

"I loved that work," she said. "These aren't cases, or files, or numbers, but they're people."

Semerod declined to comment on the sentencing as she left the courtroom and Gurganus also left without commenting on it.

Young said he would talk with Semerod about appealing her sentence.

"I don't necessarily agree with it," he said in reference to the sentence.

He also said there were no winners in the courtroom.

"It's a tragic situation," he said.

HARRISBURG - The Harrisburg Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rally will be held from noon to 1 p.m. Friday at the steps of the Capitol, Third and State streets, joining over 150 other cities and towns from Maine to Hawaii that are participating in this national event.

The rally follows one held March 23 in which 63,000 citizens participated in 145 cities. With the Supreme Court's Affordable Care Act ruling expected in a few weeks and the November elections in sight, the June 8 Stand Up Rally is expected to draw even larger crowds, organizers for the Harrisburg group report.

"If Obamacare is ruled unconstitutional, we must ensure that religious freedom will be protected in subsequent health care legislation," said Tom Torchia. "But if Obamacare is not struck down, we'll be sending the federal government a clear message that the faith-based institutions and private businesses affected by the HHS Mandate here in Harrisburg will not violate their consciences by complying with it."

Torchia said the rally has nothing to do with access to contraception.

"There is no 'war on contraception' in our country. Contraception is already widely, cheaply available," he said. "What's really under attack today is religious freedom."

On the Net: StandUpRally.com

MOUNT CARMEL - Borough council voted Monday night to move forward with hiring a part-time employee and full-time employee for the street department.

Council also awarded a lawn care maintenance contract and put on hold for next month a potential decision on how municipal trash will be hauled away.

The motion to hire for two positions was made by Councilman Robert Barrett and seconded by Councilman Leroy "Chico" Moser. It passed 6-1 with Barrett, Moser, Robert Shirmer, Gary Hixson Jr., Joseph Lapotsky and Clem Plisiewicz Jr. in agreement. Council President Tony Matulewicz voted against the move.

What the motion did not include were the names of who would take the positions.

When Barrett asked fellow members if they should move to hire someone specific, Matulewicz pointed out the meeting had closed and such a move could not be made.

Barrett said approximately eight people were interviewed for the positions.

According to News-Item archives, one street department employee retired March 31, another will retire July 31 and the third has expressed a desire to follow suit.

Council requested bids for lawn maintenance through the end of this year. It received one bid from Brookside Landscaping, which officials said came after the 3 p.m. June 1 deadline. DMP's proposal wasn't submitted in bid form; rather, by e-mail to the borough when the company was asked for cost estimates, according to the company's owner.

Steve Pesarchick, owner of DMP, who was at the meeting, said lawn maintenance companies avoided bidding on the contract because it is for one year. If council sought such services beyond one year, more companies would have submitted bids, he said.

Council reviewed in executive session an e-mail Pesarchick sent the borough concerning price estimates for two years.

They returned and awarded a two-year contract to DMP at an approximate annual cost of $7,800. That does not include the cost to trim along the Shamokin Creek bed; however, such work will not be needed for long because a section of that area will soon be demolished to make way for an improved creek channel.

Plisiewicz voted against the move.

According to Matulewicz, the borough had paid its employees an estimated $14,000 annually to perform the same work DMP will undertake in addition to equipment and maintenance costs.

Municipal entities must follow specific requirements concerning bidding and advertising for work above $18,500. Since the lawn care maintenance work fell below that threshold, Matulewicz said council was allowed to award the contract in a manner outside of the terms set in a request for proposals.

Council will continue to discuss how it will dispose of municipal trash from public garbage cans and borough and fire company buildings.

Two waste hauling companies - Mostik Bros. and Councilman Moser's hauling company, Moser Bros. - bid on hauling services.

Moser said he was not involved in council discussions on the hauling contract.

However, those bids were scrapped while council continues to decide whether or not to charge fire companies that operate a bar business to haul away garbage.

It appears council will increase annual stipends to the borough's three fire companies from $2,650 to $3,000 so the companies would pay for trash disposal from their bar businesses. That decision, however, is not final.

Council is also considering reducing the number of public trash containers on Oak Street from 15 to eight, or perhaps six. Those containers are emptied twice a week.

Members said most of the trash put in the containers is household and coming from downtown apartments; they're considering reducing the number of public containers so taxpayers aren't footing the bill for those looking to get rid of their trash for free.

Matulewicz estimated the borough spends $24,000 on trash disposal - $14,000 on labor and $10,000 on disposal, which he said was higher than normal because the American Hose and West End fire companies were "cleaned out."