ATLAS - A new program run by the Mount Carmel Township Police Department will help law enforcement fight crime and save lives from the skies above a five-county area.

The department announced Friday the formation of the Mount Carmel Township Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), using radio controlled drones in different situations to be an eye in the sky in emergencies and investigations.

Township Police Patrolman Keith Tamborelli, who spearheads the project, showed off the federally registered aircraft Friday. Two 11-ounce quadcopters, equipped with video and infrared cameras and capable of receiving a thermal camera, will be available for use starting Aug. 1.

"This technology will be a valuable tool in emergency situations it is called for," Tamborelli said.

First of its kind

Mount Carmel Township is the first police department on the East Coast to have a certificate of authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to operate the program and the first in the state to be licensed to have the aircraft.

It was Tamborelli who examined the programs in other municipalities, such as Arlington, Texas, to bring the program here.

Once the township provided a training area for the flights, Tamborelli - a licensed pilot - began the seven-month process to bring the aircraft system to the area.

According to a release from Mount Carmel Township Police on the project, using UAS is a way law enforcement has changed with the times to effectively enforce the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and to perform tasks associated with life-saving measures.

"Police departments, fire and EMS will all be able to use this technology as needed," Tamborelli said.

Uses, limits

The UAS will be used in many ways, including search and rescue, barricaded suspects, general patrols and other situations.

"Using the thermal camera, we can fly into the wooded area and find a person lost in the woods," the officer said. "In addition, if we are out in a remote area where a fire is occurring, we can pinpoint where the fire is and plan accordingly."

Tamborelli, fellow township officer Patrolman Kelly Campbell, and Coal Township Police Patrolman Chris Lapotsky are the three officers currently trained to either pilot or assist the aircraft by being its observer.

"Coal Township got involved because they see this as a valuable tool to help catch escapees from Northwestern Academy quickly," Tamborelli said.

Police have also reached agreements with several area coal companies that own large parcels of land, giving the department permission to fly the UAS over the private property to find trespassers or illegal dumpers.

Permission has been given to use the drone within Northumberland, Snyder, Columbia, Montour and Schuylkill counties. If an emergency arises, Tamborelli said protocol and safety checks will be followed before the UAS even takes off. In normal use, the FAA must be notified at least one hour before the UAS takes to the air.

The FAA has given permission for the aircraft to fly at a maximum altitude of 400 feet.

The drone is also available for surveillance and investigations as well, but Tamborelli said extensive research and training has been done on the proper procedures.

Privacy issues

Officers using the UAS are expected to follow the same rules and regulations they would in more traditional law enforcement settings.

"We have established a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Department of Justice," Tamborelli said. "We follow their guidelines. If we would need a search warrant to investigate otherwise, we would need one to fly the craft in the area as well."

There has been much talk concerning privacy issues and drones used by private citizens. Tamborelli said the department understands the concern, but said Mount Carmel Township has a policy in place and holds itself to a higher standard.

"The FAA has three qualifications for drone use - personal, commercial and law enforcement. Between their regulations and our policy, this tool will only be used for official business, not personal use," Tamborelli said. "We've all put in months of training to use this the right way and do not want to see this fall apart."

For the officer, there is so much more on the line. Tamborelli purchased the apparatus and has gone through the training and licensing at his own personal expense; he is leasing the equipment to the township for $1 each year. The lease is renewable annually.

"Safety, above all else, is the primary concern in each and every operation, regardless of the nature of the mission," according to the release.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Firefighters responded to SCI-Coal Township Friday afternoon when an air conditioning unit on the roof of the laundry department caught fire.

The fire was quickly detected and controlled, inmates and staff were removed from the area and no other areas of the prison were affected, according to a press release from the prison.

There was no word Friday if repairs would be made prior to this weekend's hot weather, which is expected to reach the 90s by Sunday.

A fire official said damage was contained to the unit. Firefighters from Maine Fire Company used a handline to put out the fire. Additional firefighters were staged in a parking lot until given the all clear, about 15 minutes after the initial 911 call, which was placed around 12:30 p.m.

Friday's incident immediately rekindled memories of the Northumberland County Prison fire on Jan. 14, but, fortunately, played out much differently. The jail in Sunbury, built in 1876, was extensively damaged by fire of undetermined origin.

Since that time, female inmates have been incarcerated at SCI-Muncy, while most of the male inmates have been housed at SCI-Coal Township in the J and K blocks. Prisons in Snyder, Montour and other counties also have been used to house Northumberland County prisoners.

The county completed a $2 million purchase earlier this month of the 22-acre Moran Industries Inc. property at 1400 Susquehanna Ave., Sunbury, where officials plan to construct a new county prison.

Family night at pool set for Tuesday

SHAMOKIN - Family Fun Night at the Lawton W. Shroyer Memorial Pool, Rock Street, has been rescheduled to 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday. There will be a $3 admission to the pool. There will be music by DJ Boppin with the Big Guys and family fun games. For more information, call the pool at 570-644-4789.

Community service today

COAL TOWNSHIP - Magisterial District Judge John H. Gembic asks participants in the community service program to meet at 9 a.m. today at the Coal Bowl.

'Wizard' cast members to appear on TV

SHAMOKIN - Fifteen cast members from the Northumberland County Council for the Arts Summer Children's Theatre production of "The Wizard of Oz" will be on WBRE LIVE between 4 and 5 p.m. Monday.

Musical performances will be presented at the Arts Center at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Tickets are available at the door.

SUNBURY - The eighth annual Sunbury River Festival/Central Pennsylvania Rowing Association Cardboard Boat Regatta will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, at the Sunbury Amphitheater.

Anyone can participate by building and decorating a boat of any shape or size using only cardboard, duct tape, glue and paint. Participants then float their boats on the Susquehanna River and paddle their way to the finish line. Building a boat is easy and fun, and the experience of rowing it on the water is something participants will never forget.

Race classes include kids, adults, families, clubs and companies.

Now is the time to begin collecting cardboard and designing boats. Sizes of boats in past races have ranged from those with a single rower to boats with more than 12 adult rowers. Examples of past entries can be viewed at www.flickr.com/photos/cpra.

The registration fee is $15 per person, $50 for boats with four to seven people or $100 for boats with eight or more people. A set of easy-to-follow directions, rules for construction and racing and entry forms are available at www.rowpa.org.

WILLIAMSPORT - A former Muslim chaplain filed an amended complaint against SCI-Coal Township and the state Department of Corrections (DOC) Tuesday, just two months after several counts of his initial lawsuit were dismissed.

Mustafa Abuomar, of Mount Carmel - who filed the suit a year ago in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania against the state agency, SCI-Coal Township superintendent Vince Mooney and Majors Edward Baumbach and Dennis Brumfield, supervisors at the prison - added corrections officers Theodore Benza and "Officer Kipple" and new claims of retaliation, violating the state Human Relations Act and two counts of hostile work environment.

Abuomar's account of the day in question remains identical to the initial complaint.

Forced to retract

In his capacity as an imam, Abuomar was responsible for organizing observances and other activities for inmates of Muslim faith.

According to court documents filed by his attorneys, Kymberley Best and Timothy Bowers, of Sunbury, Abuomar filed a complaint to DOC's Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Pennsylvania Human Rights Commission regarding inappropriate ethnic, racial and religious slurs allegedly made by a corrections officer to him.

Abuomar alleged he was held at the prison against his will, and not even allowed to make a phone call or go to the bathroom until he wrote a detailed statement to Mooney about his interaction with the corrections officer and the prison's deputy superintendent.

Abuomar claimed when he went to his office to contact his attorney, Baumbach and Brumfield came into the office and ordered him to hang up the phone and come with them. He was taken to a room, like one of the prisoners, and forced to write out a statement retracting his allegations.

When Mooney saw the statement, he related to Brumfield that he was not satisfied with the content but allowed Abuomar to leave, stating he would be required to rewrite the statement to Mooney's satisfaction the next morning.

In the new hostile work environment charges, Best and Bowers say "Officer Kipple," whose first name is unknown, "routinely interfered with Abuomar's ability to conduct and the ability of inmates to attend Jummah Prayer, Taleem classes and other observances of the Islamic faith."

The amended complaint says Kipple also refused to allow Muslim inmates to use the water fountain adjacent to the chapel, interrupted faith observances and berated attendees with abusive language. Kipple has not been disciplined or made to stop his behavior, the complaint says.

In response to Abuomar filing a discrimination complaint, the defendants retaliated against him by forcing him to write the statement, harassing him by committing acts offensive to Muslims and taking away his authority to select texts and organize observances for Ramadan, the amended complaint says.

The discrimination of Abuomar's religion violated the PA Human Relations Act, the amended complaint says. Abuomar is seeking compensatory damages for lost wages, counsel fees, punitive damages, costs and interest from the defendants for committing the alleged acts.

Counts from Abuomar's initial complaint that his civil rights were violated, along with the Fourth and 14th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, and state laws on battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and false imprisonment, remained the same in the amended complaint.

The counts that were dismissed May 4 on concurrence of Abuomar and the defendants - that Abuomar's rights under the Fifth and Eighth amendments of the U.S. Constitution and that the DOC did not discipline their workers for their misconduct - were not re-filed with the amended complaint.

A count that the state's whistleblower law was violated, which was dismissed by federal Judge Matthew W. Brann after he found the actions taken against Abuomar on March 5, 2014, were certainly adverse, they did not interfere with his compensation, terms, conditions, location or privileges of employment, was also not re-filed.

SHAMOKIN - Tearing down blighted properties is no small task, but the city code officer says demolition doesn't absolve the owner from responsibility of what's left behind.

The remaining vacant lots must be maintained, said Rick Bozza.

"It's a public safety issue," Bozza said as he walked about a vacant lot between the first block of North Sixth and Carbon streets.

A bit of rubble and wood pieces is allowable once a home is destroyed and the debris hauled away. At 32 N. Sixth St., however, there's wood pieces with nails sticking out, a large tree stump and weeds growing waist high from front to back, side to side.

The property is owned by Henry and Shirley Bebenek, according to city and county records.

The large home that sat vacant there for years was razed last fall.

Al Masinos lives at an adjacent property at 43 N. Carbon St. He's been there since 1996 and says the home was vacant then, too. Kids play in the neighborhood and he's concerned they'll step or fall onto a nail.

"I seen them kick the ball up and I went and got it because I don't want them to get hurt," he said.

Masinos and two other neighbors tried to purchase the lot, but a deal couldn't be struck, he and Bozza said.

Bozza pointed out two other lots that are overgrown.

The property at 624-628 W. Mulberry St. is owned by Keith Musser. A double-home there was demolished in 2014. What remains is a hilly lot with weeds estimated at 4 feet or higher in some spots.

Brad Searls was at neighboring 622 W. Mulberry St. hanging a handrail outdoors for the homeowner. Portions of what remains of a stone wall are crumbling and threatening to fall onto the neighbor's walkway. Rain from the yard redirects into the rear porch area and has seeped into the basement, Searls said.

A third lot at 604-606 E. Sunbury St. is waist high and thick with weeds and grass. It's owned by Bettina Fennessy and in care of Bill Fennessy. Cats find it to be a great hiding place; raccoons, too, a neighbor said. On either side are vacant lots, both neatly mowed. Four properties were razed there following an arson fire in 2013.

A citation is pending against Bebenek, and code tickets will be issued to Musser and Fennessy, Bozza said. He's hopeful the property owners will respond, clean up and keep it that way, and that others will follow suit.

COAL TOWNSHIP - No one was injured in a motorcycle crash at 10:48 a.m. Saturday along Pine Street.

Township police report Eric Dietrich, 53, of 1542 W. Wood St., Coal Township, was attempting to pull onto Pine Street on his 2005 Harley Davidson FLT from the intersection of Pine and Locust when he lost control of the bike and struck a brick wall and porch at 1201 W. Pine St., owned by Doug and Sue Neidig, of Kramer, and occupied by James Beach.

The rider was not injured and the bike suffered minor damage.

Dietrich said at the scene a malfunction had occurred and he was unable to control the bike. Minimal damage was reported to the motorcycle, but the porch wall was extensively damaged.

I hope at least one time this summer you can get away from the urban and suburban lit-up skies and really take in the splendor of the summer nighttime skies. Also don't forget that reclining lawn chair so you can stargaze in complete comfort. Insect repellant can also greatly add to your comfort.

Even if you're stargazing into not so dark skies, it's still a nice time. After about 15 to 20 minutes, your night vision will kick in and you'll start to see fainter stars, at least in the upper half of the sky. Along with the great summer constellations that you can take in with just the eyes you were born with, there's also great celestial treasures you can dig for with even a small telescope or even binoculars.

One of the best ones is hanging high in the southern sky near the overhead zenith in the faint constellation Hercules the Hero. It's the great Hercules Globular cluster, an ancient spherical swarm of possibly a million stars about 25,000 light years away (just one light year weighs in at nearly six trillion miles). All of these multitudes of stars are packed in an sphere less than 150 light years across. It's crowded in there. The Great Hercules cluster is also known to astronomers as Messier Object 13 or M13.

I think the easiest way to find it is to use the two brightest stars you can see in the evening sky right now, Vega and Arcturus. They also happen to be nearly overhead. Vega is just to the east of the zenith in the faint constellation Lyra the harp and Arcturus is just to the west in the constellation Bootes the farmer, featured in last week's Starwatch column. Draw a line between Vega and Arcturus. M-13 will be just short of the halfway point from Vega to Arcturus. Scan that area with your binoculars or telescope with a low magnification and wide field width and see if you can find what looks like a tiny little "fuzzy" star.

Once you spot M13 with a telescope, switch to a higher magnification eyepiece and hopefully see its true nature. You should be able to see some of the individual stars at the outer perimeter. Globular clusters like M13 are made up of old stars generally more than 12 billion years old, and more than 140 globular clusters form a giant halo around our Milky Way Galaxy. In a way, they are part of the outer structure of our home galaxy, or what some astronomers call satellites of our Milky Way. I can just about guarantee you'll fall in love one of the true jewels of the heavens, especially if you're taking it in from the dark countryside.

For extra credit, see if you can find another globular cluster not all that far way from M13 in the constellation Hercules. It's M-92 take your binoculars or telescope and scan the area about eight degrees or just less than the width of your fist held at arm's length to the upper left of M13 and should be able to spot M-92. It's just about as bright as M-13 and a little farther away at a distance of 27,000 light years.

While you're gazing into the summer sky, I want you see if you can spot a star called T-Coronae Borealis in the faint constellation by the same name. Just like M13 you can use the bright stars Arcturus and Vega to find it. About two-thirds the way from Vega to Arcturus, there will be a fairly faint collection of stars that form a backward "C." That's the constellation Corona Borealis the Northern Cross. With slightly intensified imagination, you can see how the backward "C" could be seen as a crown.

One of stars in the crown is much brighter than the others. It 's Alphecca, a star around 75 light years away. T-Coronae Borealis is located on the lower side of the "C" or crown. The only thing is that I can just about guarantee you won't see it. So why am bringing up? Because there is a tiny, tiny, tiny chance you may see it, about the same chance you have of winning a multi-million dollar lottery. T-Coronae Borealis is also known as the "Blaze Star," but it sure doesn't blaze that often. In fact, in the last 150 years, it's only blazed up for a few days back in 1866 and again in 1946.

So what's going on? T-Coronae Borealis is actually a double star system made up of a large red giant star and a dying white dwarf star. As the two orbit each other, the strong gravity of the white dwarf pulls gas off the red giant star. The details are complicated, but a white dwarf star can only acquire so much additional gas before they become extremely unstable and blows away the acquired mass in all directions. When this happened to T-Coronae Borealis it temporally becomes the brightest star in Corona Borealis. Astronomers call his phenomena a recurrent nova.

No one knows exactly when the Blaze Star will blaze away again. It might just happen during your time under the summer heavens.

Celestial huggings

Tonight, the new crescent moon will just to the left of the bright planets Venus and Jupiter in the very low early evening western sky.

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

SHAMOKIN - Moose Lodge 1149 played host to some important guests Saturday evening.

The lodge on Rock Street hosted Moose Supreme Gov. Terry L. Walls, from Oklahoma, along with seven young male residents and "family teachers" from Canada House, part of Mooseheart, a 1,000-acre community and school for youngsters in need located near Chicago.

"We are here to thank you for all the work you do for this organization and these causes," Walls told the approximately 15 Shamokin members and guests. "It is an honor for me, as the supreme governor, to come and see all these great lodges that make up our organization."

Craig Palmquist, one of the family teachers traveling with the boys, spoke about the work done at Mooseheart.

"With having the job of family teachers, we often get asked what do we do? What do we teach?" Palmquist said. "We are teaching them social skills, what it means to stay on task and be productive members of society."

Palmquist said he and his wife, Kathy, and the other family teachers develop relationships with the youth and enjoy watching them succeed. One such success was experienced earlier in the day when the seven boys, ages 11 and 12, were at Knoebels Amusement Resort.

"There were two of the boys that conquered their fears of being on a roller coaster," Palmquist said. "They had never been on a roller coaster before."

Palmquist said it's hard to explain in a short amount of time what happens at Mooseheart, but invited everyone to visit the community. Walls also invited the membership to visit Moosehaven, a 75-acre retirement community near Jacksonville, Fla.

"I had a great friend there that just passed away at the age of 106 1/2." Walls said. "He got there when he was 97. We say that Moosehaven not only adds life to your years, but years to your life."

Members of the Shamokin Lodge showed their charitable side during Saturday's visit, presenting a $500 donation to the God's Chuckwagon Mobile Soup Kitchen and $250 to Moose Charities.

The visitors and dignitaries also received another present from the Lodge: lumps of anthracite coal to remind them of their time in the area.

"These are not lumps of coal because you were bad," Walls joked to the children. "These are good presents to remind you of these great people."

Kulpmont surplus food distribution set

KULPMONT - The borough's food surplus distribution is scheduled for 8 a.m. to noon Thursday in the borough garage. Residents enrolled in the program are reminded to bring their bags.

All borough residents eligible for enrollment must complete a new household registration form for 2015-16. Forms may be completed in the borough office Monday through Friday. Proof of residency will be required.

PILLOW - A collection of radio control (RC) airplanes took to sunny skies Saturday in a display of craftsmanship and piloting skills during a fly-in event in Lower Mahanoy Township.

The Aerobats Flying Club, a radio control airplane club, is hosting the first Carl Bredbenner Fly-In at a private, grassy airstrip on a farm formerly owned by Bredbenner, an airplane enthusiast who died last year. The event continues until mid-afternoon today; there is no admission fee for spectators.

Club members took turns flying their aircraft, including sailplanes,

which were driven by the wind once launched, and single-engine planes, which are powered by lithium polymer batteries or Glow fuel, a mixture of methanol, nitromethane and oil. The average flight time was around 10 minutes, but was dependent on the amount of fuel used.

Ryan Nau, of Williamstown, had by far the largest RC plane at the fly-in. He piloted a 40-percent size replica of a Sukhoi SU26MX with a 32-inch prop and a 150cc engine with an output of about 18 horsepower.

Nau used a controller to adjust the plane's elevator and throttle to make it do a variety of tricks, including a touch-and-go and a torque roll, in which the plane hovers vertically for several seconds. The plane touched down with ease after making several banked turns while even avoiding a bird or two.

Dave Rissinger, who owns a quarter-size replica of a J3 Piper Cub, said models are often made of balsa wood and covered in a plastic film, which gives them a more realistic look. Planes can be built from scratch, but most are purchased with a majority parts already installed.

Building a model and flying one are two different things. Rissinger said club members have logged hours in simulators and, in many cases, have controlled the planes with a trainer, who takes over if trouble arises. Every club member has also joined the Academy of Model Aeronautics, which, among many things, provides education and leadership to modelers.

Many of the Aerobats are RC pilot veterans. The club organized in 2003 and began holding fly-ins near Sacramento, Schuylkill County. They moved to the Bredbenner farm four years ago.

The 1,600-foot grass runway is located at 452 Flying Eagle Road, off Route 225 just north of Pillow. For more information visit the Aerobats Flying Club on Facebook.

Editor's Note: Marquardt, a Pottsville native, is a daughter of Charlie Marquette, who managed Sharp Mountain Ski Area and still lives in Pottsville, and Dorothy and Leon Scicchitano, who was a surgeon at Pottsville Hospital. She settled in Rome eight years ago, where she is a journalist and translator. Marquardt is writing a book on Henrietta Tower Wurts and her husband for publication next year in Italy and later in the United States.

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Henrietta Tower Wurts is forgotten in her hometown of Pottsville but remembered in Italy where a Roman park bears her name. Heiress, society hostess, philanthropist and acquaintance of dictator, Benito Mussolini, Henrietta was all these.

The path that took her from Pottsville to Rome began with her father, Charlemagne Tower, a Harvard-educated lawyer from Waterville, New York, who moved to Schuylkill County in 1845 to sort out some land titles for a partner.

Tower married an Orwigsburg girl, started a law office on Centre Street in Pottsville, and bought a red brick house for his family on Mahantongo across from St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church. There, Henrietta was born on Oct. 26, 1856, and grew up with her brother and four sisters.

The Tower home on Mahantongo Street had a small barn and a cow, a backyard with a dog and a garden full of chickens. Inside it had elegant furniture, a stock of imported French wine and books. Private tutors taught Henrietta and her siblings German, French and Spanish and as teenagers they went off to boarding school in New England. Tower prepared his children for a life beyond Pottsville and her brother, Charlie, would one day serve as U.S. Ambassador in Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Russia.

Tower steadily increased his wealth in Pottsville renting out land to the Brookside and Tower collieries, founding Tower City and investing in the Honey Brook Coal Co. He served as district attorney and, in 1861, became a local hero when he led one of Pottsville's first Civil War units, Tower's Guards, into battle at Falling Waters, Virginia.

In 1871, the Pennsylvania and Reading Coal and Iron Co. bought the anthracite real estate Tower had amassed over the years with his New York partner, making Tower a millionaire.

He left Pottsville for Philadelphia in 1875 and turned his attention to iron mining in Minnesota. Two of his daughters married and stayed in Pottsville while Henrietta went to Philadelphia to care for her parents. She would do this for the next 20 years and seemed destined to be an old maid.

But, by 1896, both Henrietta's parents had died leaving her a fortune. She was 42, free and rich. In 1898, she married a career diplomat, George Washington Wurts, a son of a New Jersey family that had started the Delaware and Hudson Canal Co. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, Wurts spent the next 30 years as an embassy official in Russia and Italy.

Henrietta and George settled in Rome and in 1902 bought Villa Sciarra, an ancient estate atop the Janiculum Hill, one of Rome's famous seven hills. Lore has it that Cleopatra stayed on the spot when she visited Julius Caesar but a Roman cardinal first built the villa and its gardens during the Italian Renaissance.

George and Henrietta spent the next 20 years restoring the villa, known then on as Villa Sciarra-Wurts. They planted American pansies, English roses, and African palms, and bred a flock of white peacocks that wandered freely.

Every Thursday in May, Henrietta presided over exclusive garden parties at the villa where wealthy Americans, Vatican prelates, embassy officials, Italian aristocrats and fellows from the nearby American Academy of Rome mingled.

Henrietta became a doyenne of Roman society, befriended the Italian queen and was a regular at court balls. Social pages in Italy and the United States wrote of her diamonds and unique black and white pearls.

It all changed with World War I. The British and American ambassadors in Rome ostracized Henrietta for having pro-German sympathies. Henrietta responded by turning Villa Sciarra-Wurts into a temporary hospital for soldiers.

After George Wurts died in 1928, Henrietta made headlines by giving Villa Sciarra-Wurts to Benito Mussolini, Italy's fascist head of state. She did this on the condition it become a public park and cultural center honoring the 18th German poet, Goethe, whose time in Italy transformed his life as it did Henrietta's.

On April 3, 1932, Mussolini officially opened Villa Sciarra-Wurts as a park, giving his first ever speech in German, which recounted Goethe's Italian years. He greeted Henrietta and they looked together at the recently placed stone dedication plaque inscribed with their names.

A year to the day, on April 3, 1933, Henrietta died of heart failure at age 77 while vacationing in Lucerne, Switzerland. A train brought her remains back to Rome and on April 8, 1933, a funeral service was held at St. Paul's American Church to which Mussolini sent one of his high officials.

In her will, Henrietta left her immense art collection to Mussolini as well on the condition it go to a public museum. He placed it in Rome's National Museum di Palazzo Venezia, which was in the same building as his headquarters, and hung one of her paintings behind his chair in the famous Sala del Pappagallo where he was often photographed with his cabinet.

Henrietta's will also set up The Henrietta Tower Wurts Foundation in the United States, which funded the first meals-on-wheels program and continues to give grants to community groups in Philadelphia.

A Pottsville native myself, I discovered Henrietta's lost story by chance. While working at the American University of Rome, I took a lunch break in the park across the street, which turned out to be Villa Sciarra-Wurts, and snapped a photo of the 1932 dedication plaque that someone had, curiously, partly erased. Park officials, I later learned, removed Mussolini's name after World War II leaving only those of the last owners, "George Wurts" and "Henrietta Wurts Tower."

Searching the Internet for these names, Charlemagne Tower of Pottsville came up. Census data and Henrietta's marriage and baptismal records confirmed it. Henrietta Wurts of Rome was once Charlemagne Tower's daughter of Pottsville.

Henrietta now rests in the Protestant Cemetery of Rome alongside her husband, George. Other famous foreigners who died in Italy lay a few yards away including the great English Romantic poets, Keats and Shelly.

I visited her grave this April with my son, on the 82nd anniversary of Henrietta's death. A rhododendron in front of her headstone was just sprouting.

Pushing it aside, we read the inscription that tersely captured the unexpected journey of her life: "Henrietta Tower Wurts, Born Pottsville, PA, October 26th 1856, Died in Lucerne, April 3rd 1933."

SHAMOKIN - The inaugural Help Fair Saturday at Claude Kehler Community Park was deemed a "rousing success," but it wasn't just because 16 charity, nonprofit and government organizations were gathered in one place for those needing a leg up.

It was also because the organizations themselves were helped by the Help Fair.

The Pennsylvania Job Corps used the fair to recruit students. Manny for the Many food pantry used it to collect donations. And Northumberland County Children and Youth was recruiting mentors.

"There is a tremendous need

for foster parents here in the Shamokin area," said Megan Weaver, resource family supervisor for Children and Youth. "We hope that we can find these youth safe, happy environments to be raised in."

Pastor James Bowers was thrilled with the Help Fair, which he coordinated through his church, Ministry of the Water and Spirit, and the God's Chuckwagon Mobile Soup Kitchen it operates.

Bowers noted the strong turnout of organizations and those who attended to seek help.

"It's a good day," he said.

'No Wrong Door'

Laun Dunn, executive director of the Lower Anthracite Region United Way, was on hand talking about the services her agency has available. She also networked with representatives of other organizations about a new program the United Way is starting called "No Wrong Door."

"No Wrong Door is a way to make sure that people are getting the help they need, even if we are not the ones providing it," Dunn said.

For example, if someone comes to the United Way looking for food, they will be referred to the proper organization - and there will be follow-up.

"The difference is that we will continue to follow up with the person and the other organization, making sure the person is getting the help they need," Dunn said.

Parent to Parent Connections Inc., of Sunbury, used the Help Fair to introduce the organization to the area.

"Today is a good day, because I'm not only meeting the public who I want to help, but other great organizations that we want to work with to serve more people in any way we can," said administrator Carolyn Richardson.

"I've talked with many home health aides who are eligible for several food assistance programs and they've never had a clue they were eligible," said Cynthia Clayton of Penn State Extension nutrition program. "It's always a good thing when you can share information like that to make a difference to someone."

Youth representing Thrivent Financial played games and had activities, such as face painting, available for children whose parents were seeking help.

And God's Chuckwagon bus was on hand to provide lunch.

"People are interacting and talking and learning," Bowers said. "It makes all the effort to put it together worthwhile. We will definitely do it again next year."

Organizations taking part in Saturday's Help Fair not already mentioned were Geisinger Health Plan, Special Kids Network, Transitions of Pa., Good News Bible Church and "Blessings to You," Aetna Health, Central Susquehanna Opportunities, Clinical Outcomes Group, Shamokin-Coal Township Juvenile Sports and Bayada Nurses.

As summer temperatures heat up, AAA East Central warns drivers about the dangers of leaving children and pets in vehicles. Temperatures inside a car, even on a mild, sunny day, can reach deadly levels in just 10 minutes.

"Children should not be left in a car by an adult, or forgotten because of an adult's distraction. If you see an unattended child in a vehicle, call 9-1-1 immediately," said AAA East Central Safety Advisor Terri Rae Anthony.

Animals are equally impacted by summer heat. Dogs are not able to sweat like humans do, but instead cool themselves by panting and by sweating through their paws. If they have only overheated air to breathe, they can collapse, suffer brain damage and die of heatstroke.

The National Highway Traffic Administration notes that children are particularly susceptible to heatstroke because their bodies can heat up five times faster than adults. Heatstroke deaths have been recorded in 11 months of the year in nearly all 50 states. More than half of heatstroke deaths occurred when a distracted caregiver forgot a quiet child was in the vehicle.

While you can't control high heat, you do have some power to help protect you, your family and your vehicle by following these tips.

- Never leave children or animals unattended in a car, not even for a short period of time. Outside air temperatures in the 90s can rise to 125 degrees inside the vehicle very quickly and can cause brain damage or death.

- Take action if you see an unattended child or pet in a vehicle. Dial 911 immediately and follow the instructions of emergency personnel.

- Make sure all child passengers have left the vehicle after it is parked.

- Keep vehicles locked at all times; even in the garage or driveway.

- Never leave keys and/or remote openers within reach of children.

- When parked, use a sun shield to cover the windshield to minimize heat buildup and to help protect the car's interior. Cover metal and plastic parts on seat belts and child safety seats to prevent burns.

- Open the vehicle's doors and let the interior cool for a few minutes before entering.

- Remember to remove electronics such as cell phones, iPods, etc. from your vehicle, as the high heat can drain the batteries and possibly damage internal components.

SUNBURY - State Rep. Lynda Schlegel Culver (R-108) announced she will host her annual Senior Expo on July 31.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Shikellamy High School cafeteria, 600 Walnut St. Residents living in the 108th Legislative District aged 55 and older, and caregivers, are invited to attend.

"This expo provides area seniors with a one-stop-shop for information about the many programs and services available to them in our area," Culver said. "Sometimes it can be challenging to track down all the necessary information needed to get in contact with all these agencies and businesses that exist solely to help this demographic."

Nearly 50 vendors from county, state and federal agencies, as well as local businesses and services, are expected to attend this year's expo. A full list of vendors will be available on LyndaCulver.com.

Seniors will also be able to take advantage of the following free screenings: strength, cholesterol, stroke, video otoscope, ankle brachial index, as well as back assessments and blood glucose checks.

RSVP is not required, and there is no admission fee. Light refreshments and door prizes will be available.

For more information about the 2015 Senior Expo, or any other state-related issue, contact Culver's district office in Sunbury located at 106 Arch St., by calling 570-286-5885, or toll-free at 1-800-924-9060. Information can also be found online at LyndaCulver.com or Facebook.com/RepCulver.

Marriage licenses

Peyton Alexander Rona, of 440 E. State Route 61, Mount Carmel, to Jessica Lynn Madden, of 47 N. Vine St., Mount Carmel. Issued July 16.

Ryan Michael Blee to Shauna Pauline Hughes, both of 25 N. Locust St., Mount Carmel. Issued July 17.

Darvey Vincent Bressi to Suzanne Marie Wolfgang, both of 4799 State Route 61, Paxinos. Issued July 17.

Richard Lee Lahr III, of 1313 W. Independence St., Coal Township, to Alicia D. Gordon, of 1399 Trevorton Road, Coal Township. To be issued July 20.

Branden Scott Snyder to Jennifer Marie Winkelman, both of 551 Chestnut St., Kulpmont. To be issued July 20.

William Evoldo Rosini and Shannon D. Beury, both of 582 Airport Road, Paxinos. To be issued July 20.

Property transfers

Michael W. Rider and Ashleigh D. Rider to Jeremy W. Cooper and Michelle L. Cooper, property in Upper Augusta Township, $1.

Peter J. Madl and Eunice N. Madl to Bowen Developments LLC, property in Zerbe Township, $12,500.

Karl L. Carey and Stephanie Lee Carey to Bowen Developments LLC, property in Zerbe Township, $23,000.

Jeremy Snyder and Elizabeth Snyder to Bradley D. Wetzel, property in Jackson Township, $148,000.

Evelyn aka Evalyn B. Coveleski estate, Jacqueline Young (individually and executrix), Harry Young, Gregory Wayne Young, James Jeffrey Young, Kaitlyn Lasavage, Kaitlyn Nolter, Ryan Lasavage, Diane McGeehan, Frank Whalen and Michael Whalen to Susan Olszewskie, property in Mount Carmel Township, $1.

CLDCV LLC to G. Cesar Zerrato, property in Shamokin, $800.

Ideal Associates LLC to Christopher D. Leitzel, property in Jordan Township, $116,301.95.

Rita Veach to Patricia A. Johnson, Kathleen A. Vitacco and Cynthia A. Varmecky, property in Mount Carmel Township, $1.

William T. Yarnell (executor) and Henry J. Pakosky estate to Michael Pakosky, Kathy Yarnell, Gary Pakosky, Rick Pakosky and Dave Pakosky, property in Ralpho Township, $1.

Joseph D. Lapotsky and Katherine A. Lapotsky to Anthony R. McGinley and Karen L. McGinley, property in Mount Carmel, $138,000.

Ruthann H. Shinskie to William Shinskie and Charity S. Shinskie, property in Ralpho Township, $1.

David L. Swinehart (executor) and Harry R. Swinehart estate to Matthew D. Swinehart, property in Zerbe Township, $12,000.

William G. Griffiths and Barbara A. Griffiths to Jennifer Young and Mark Young, property in Ralpho Township, $135,000.

Jack Pizzoli and Sylvia Pizzoli estate to Jack Pizzoli, two properties in Mount Carmel Township, $1 each.

David R. Grimes and Maria J. Grimes to Kelly McCarthy, property in Coal Township, $57,500.

Mildred L. Lewis to Nathan R. Longenderfer and Cheri L. Longenderfer, property in Rockefeller Township, $160,000.

Double Y Realty LLC to 29 N Jones LLC, property in Shamokin, $1.

Deidre A. Heromin to Jason M. Adams and Danielle M. Adams, property in Mount Carmel, $114,000.

Elizabeth C. aka Elizabeth Bebenek to Frank J. Bebenek II, property in Ralpho Township, $1.

Lynne C. Gladfelter Mahaffey to Lorri Ann Goretsky, property in Rockefeller Township, $71,000.

Northumberland County Sheriff's Office and Robert Dietterick to Fannie Mae, property in Coal Township, $2,706.53.

Alice A. Haydt to David T. Evans and Tiara N. Nickerson, property in Upper Augusta Township, $1.

Theresa M. Smith and Kathleen A. Colsher (executors), Anna R. Cashmere aka Anna Cashmere aka Anna Olear Cashmere aka Ann Olear to Theresa M. Smith and Kathleen A. Colsher, property in Mount Carmel Township, $1.

Equity Trust Co. (custodian) and Roger Grattan to Jared Mauer and Amanda Lee Sweeney, property in Shamokin, $75,000.

Regina M. Lauer to Regina M. Lauer and Candace M. Heintzelman, property in Ralpho Township, $1.

Judy L. Reed (executor) and Joseph G. Reed estate to Judy L. Reed, property in Coal Township, $1.

Christine M. Birrell, Christine M. Hart and Stephen Pollock to Alyssa Brook Hart, property in Shamokin, $10,000.

Charles H. Haffling and M. Diane Haffling to C. Gregory Haffling, the Charles H. Haffling Trust and the M. Diane Haffling Irrevocable Grantor Trust, property in Jackson Township, $1.

Edward J. Semborski and Anna P. Semborski to Edward J. Semborski and Anna P. Semborski, two properties in Mount Carmel Township, $1 each.

James D. Swank and Norma J. Swank to Robert E. Swank Jr., property in Shamokin, $245,000.

Marion D. Martz estate and Cindy L. Furman (administratrix) to Tiffany J. Murray, property in Upper Augusta Township, $1.

Lorelei A. Duke and Christopher J. Lapotsky to Christopher J. Lapotsky, property in Coal Township, $1.

DANVILLE - The Montour County coroner said the July 8 fall at Geisinger Medical Center that killed a Berwick masonry worker was caused by human error.

Coroner Scott Lynn told the (Sunbury) Daily Item Friday he was submitting a report to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration about his findings on the death of Stephen Kuchka, 48, who fell from a scaffold that was some 100 feet in the air.

Lynn's report, according to the Daily Item, states Kuchka was working for MPS Masonry Preservation Service restoring the brick facade at the rear of the Foss Clinic. He was working with two others on a mechanized scaffolding.

As the crew was preparing to lower the scaffolding for lunch break, Kuchka had removed safety boards, 2-by-4s strong enough to walk on but which need to be pulled out so they don't hit the hardware of the scaffold mounted onto the building while descending, Lynn said, according to the paper.

Lynn said Kuchka stepped where the 2-by-4s had been and fell through a thin piece of plywood.

He ruled the death accidental and the cause multiple blunt force injuries, according to the newspaper.

Lynn said Kuchka wasn't required to wear a harness because there was a metal railing around the side and end of the scaffolding.

An OSHA administrator said previously the agency's investigation into the matter could take up to six months, and that MPS and Geisinger were cooperating fully.

Lynn did not return a call Saturday seeking a copy of his report.

High school and college students, those receiving public housing and people on probation may sometimes be required to perform community service hours.

Regardless of your reason or your abilities, there are tons of ways to volunteer in Schuylkill County. Why wait until the 11th hour to start? An hour here, an afternoon there, or you can "adopt" a non-profit and give them steady assistance.

Schuylkill County is so large, where do you begin your search? Community Volunteers in Action is the county's volunteer center. We've been helping people find their perfect volunteer assignment since 1996, and we can help you, too. We have a weekly volunteer column in several local newspapers as well as on their websites and a user-friendly database on our own website where you can find almost 200 volunteer opportunities. You can also find us on Facebook. Of course, you can always reach us by phone or email.

Something for everyone

Keep in mind that all our opportunities are ideal for anyone looking to give back, not just those needing community service hours.

Why not take advantage of the warm weather to get your community service hours in now? It's easy and we're here for you.

The Tamaqua Salvation Army will host a KIDZ KARNIVAL from 2 to 8 p.m. Aug. 4 rain or shine. Rides, games, food and activities will be featured. Proceeds will benefit the program and facility. If you'd like to support the event, they're in need of donations of food, drinks or other event items as well as monetary donations to sponsor activities. Call 570-668-0410 for more information.

A fireworks display will take place at the Marian High School at 9 p.m. July 25 as part of the Marian Summer Picnic weekend event.

Mark your calendars for the Family Fun Fest Aug. 6 on the square in Orwigsburg. Enjoy summer fun, food and family entertainment, games, music and more. Rain location will be inside the memorial building.

Community Volunteers in Action is the volunteer center for Schuylkill County. Use the preceding contact info for those specific opportunities and find other listings on our website at www.schuylkill.us/cvia. Call us at 570 628-1426 or e-mail jjohnston@co.schuylkill.pa.us. Check us out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/communityvolunteersinaction.

Ombudsmen

Time: Flexible, about 1 or 2 hours per month at your convenience. Choose your availability and location.

Responsibility: Make transitioning to an adult day care or long-term care facility easier for a new consumer by distributing materials on residents' rights, etc. Be a friendly face to someone changing to a new setting.

Skills: Good listener, compassionate. Free two-hour orientation plus one-day site training required.

Location: Tremont Health and Rehab Center, Andsher Personal Care Home in McAdoo, Heritage Mill Personal Care Home in Tremont, D/S Adult Day Care Center in Tamaqua, Golden Years Adult Day Care in Shenandoah.

Contact: Eileen Barlow, MidPenn Legal Services, 570-628-3931.

Special Olympics

Times: Before, during or after events.

Responsibility: There are dozens of ways you can help these exceptional athletes. Become a coach or games director, certified official, team manager. Act as greeter, athlete escort or event cheerleader. Transport athletes to practice and competition. Obtain equipment or give a monetary donation. Conduct fundraising. Perform typing, filing, and computer tasks. Assist with registration, computer input or data processing. Take part in social or recreational activities such as a hike, picnic or bowling with the athletes.

Skills: Contact agency for specifics.

Location: Schuylkill County

Contact: Kathy Roth at roth813@yahoo.com.

The following landlord/tenant claims or judgments were filed in magisterial district court:

Judge John Gembic III, Shamokin

- Susan Neidig, Douglas and Susan Neidig, of Middleburg, against Deborah Sweeney, of Shamokin, for $1,450, filed July 16. A hearing is scheduled for July 30.

- Junior Fairweather, of Milton, against Shannon Kehler, of Shamokin, for $600, filed July 15. A hearing is scheduled for July 30.

- Shannon E. Piper, of Sunbury, against Amy Carl, of Sunbury, for $1,150, filed July 14. A hearing is scheduled for July 27.

- Shamokin Housing Authority against Frank Burgess, of Shamokin, for $464, filed July 14. A hearing is scheduled for July 27.

- Charles P. Hagan, of Hatboro, against Joanne Grodski and Ken Grodski, of Shamokin, for $1,600, filed July 14. A hearing is scheduled for July 27.

- Joyce Neaus and Randall Neaus, against Glenard Hannah and Heather Hannah, all of Coal Township, for $1,000, filed July 13. A hearing is scheduled for July 27.

- Richard and Stephanie Johnston awarded judgement July 14 against landlord Ted A. Long, of Catawissa.

- Leonard Feese, of Coal Township, awarded $2,260.25 in rent, property damage and costs July 14 from Lottie Reiprich and Leon Fite Jr., of Shamokin.

- Robert Rowe and Bonnie Rowe, both of Coal Township, awarded $158.75 in costs and fees July 14 from Brittany Jordan and Joshua Rowe, of Coal Township.

- Michael Ramos, of Neptune, N.J., awarded $1,838.25 in rent and costs July 17 from Tracey Lehman, of Coal Township.

- Lamont and Nolan Masser, of Leck Kill, awarded $1,355.25 in rent and costs July 16 from Linda Depena, of Shamokin.

Judge Hugh A. Jones, of Mount Carmel

- Nick Nestico, of Kulpmont, awarded $1,238.25 in rent and costs July 16 from Tricia Phelan, of Mount Carmel.

- Nick Nestico, of Kulpmont, awarded $1,232.25 in rent and costs July 16, from Christine Gebhart, of Kulpmont.