Add Jazz to Christmas Looking for a jazzinspired Christmas Eve service? One area church will host. See Page 11 for details.
THE ABINGTON
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Wilkes-Barre, Clarks Summit, Pa. Pa.
Commuter tax in flux following hearing BY GERARD NOLAN Abington Journal Correspondent
SCRANTON - After a panel of three judges at the Lackawanna County Courthouse in Scranton heard hours of testimony over three days regarding the enactment of a commuter tax on Scranton’s nonresident workers’ earned incomes, the city and opponents of the tax await the court’s ruling. Scranton plans to assess a1 percent tax on the earned income of each nonresident worker to balance its budget in 2013 if the court approves the levy. The city currently takes1percent of nonresident workers’ pay and remits the money to their home municipalities. The burden of proof rested on the city at the hearings Dec.11, 12 and14, which had to establish that a commuter tax was necessary to its financial well being and in compliance with all laws governing distressed municipality recoveries. Much of the arguments hinged on Act 47’s Serafini amendment, which mandates a three-part test that the city must pass before it can gain approval for a commuter tax. “You have to prove to the satisfaction of the court that you’ve substantially implemented the provisions of the recovery plan, including those filing for increases in taxes on city residents and increases in municipal fees,” Judge Terrence Nealon said of the Serafini test. The city was seeking approval to levy the tax for one year in accordance with the provisions under this Act, which grants distressed municipalities special taxing powers. Even if the tax is See Tax, Page 4
INSIDE
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ArtsEtc...............................10 Calendar.............................2 Classified ...........................15 Crosswords.........................5 Obituaries...........................8 School ............................7, 8 Sports................................13
The Abington Journal
One area Hose Company hosted its annual Children’s Christmas Party and this red-suited gentleman appeared. See Page 4.
DECEMBER 19 TO DECEMBER 25, 2012
50¢
Dalton mayor resigns BY BEN FREDA Abington Journal Correspondent
LuAnn Connolly serves a lunch tray in the Abington Heights High School cafeteria
ABINGTON JOURNAL/ELIZABETH BAUMEISTER
Eating healthy at school, home Law passed by U.S. Congress stresses healthy lunch options in schools BY ELIZABETH BAUMEISTER lbaumeister@theabingtonjournal.com
C
old greasy corndogs. Three-day-old pizza slices. Stomach aches that last from lunch period through the bus ride home. School lunches are beginning to lose negative connotations such as these, thanks to recent legislation and efforts of school food service personnel to provide a healthier menu to students. The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act was passed by U.S. Congress in 2010 and updated for the 2012-2013 school year. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) website, the act “allows USDA, for the first time in over 30 years, opportunity to make real reforms to the school lunch and breakfast programs by improving the critical nutriSee Healthy, Page 9
TIPS FOR HEALTHY EATING
It is important for students to eat healthy both at school and at home, according to Joanne Pesota, Abington Heights School District food service director and registered dietician. “This is when we establish the eating patterns of a lifetime,” she explained. Pesota offers parents three tips to help children develop healthy eating patterns: • Provide whole grains at home and in bagged lunches. If a child prefers white bread, try a white variety of whole grain bread available at the grocery store. • Use fruits as desserts. • Offer vegetables and fruits as snacks. Children will eat what is most readily available to them, whether that’s a bag of chips or a bag of apple slices. Cutting up broccoli and celery sticks and leaving them in the fridge makes these healthy foods more available as a snack.
ABINGTON JOURNAL/JOAN MEAD-MATSUI
Shown, from left: Benny Arendt, Abington Heights Middle School Family and Consumer Sciences teacher Joan Gavigan, Miriam Barren and Paige Anderson.
Cooking basics “When we measure our water, we have to be sure that we check our meaAbington Heights Mid- surement at eye level on a hard surface,” she told her dle School Family and Consumer Sciences teach- students. “When you follow this er, Joan Gavigan, taught her 5th grade cooking class recipe,” she said, “You need to be sure you follow Dec. 4 the proper way to it accurately. If you think, ‘I measure and mix ingrereally like cola and I’m dients to prepare soda going to add a little bit fountain treats. She also reviewed stove top safety with students. See Cooking, Page 9 BY JOAN MEAD-MATSUI Abington Journal Correspondent
DALTON - Mayor Jim Gray resigned his position as mayor of Dalton at the Dalton Borough Council meeting Dec. 13. He announced that his elected position must come to an end. “There are a number of reasons why I should not resign, but I will only say I’m not willing to go in the direction that this Council has been going over the past year; therefore, I effectively immediately resign respectively as mayor of Dalton,” said Gray. Gray stood up and left during the meeting. He said, “It’s been a long meeting. It’s been a long three years, but I’ll be honest with you. Things aren’t working the right way.” Board member Bill Montgomery said, “I’m sorry you feel that way, Mayor.” Montgomery said the board accepted Mayor Gray’s resignation with regret. He entertained a motion to accept Gray’s resignation. Board member Lorraine Daniels made the motion. Board member Mark Sujkowski seconded it. “I think that we all feel the same that it’s too bad because he (Gray) has been a pretty good cheerleader for the town of Dalton,” said Montgomery. “We have about 30 days to find a new mayor.” In other business, board member Susan Davidson said that according to air quality test reports, the basement has “acceptable” levels of mold. “In my book, what part of mold is “acceptable”?” asked Davidson. Montgomery said, “We understand that. At some points, you have to accept the expert’s opinion.” Davidson said that she wants to move out of the building for the health of the employees. Board member Aaron Holzman replied, “I’m opposed to moving out of the building. I see no other alternative at this point.” Sujkowski reflected on Holzman’s comments that all four air quality tests came back passing. “I don’t understand the conSee Mayor, Page 3
General store returns to its roots BY ADRIANE HEINE Abington Journal Correspondent
WAVERLY- The Waverly General Store is aptly named. Despite the building having been home to a variety of businesses over its 182 years, it was built as just that, a general store. A cornerstone of Waverly’s historic district, the building stands the test of time on the corner of Abington Road and Clinton Street.
Photographs, maps and historical documents attest to the different functions the building served over the years. “When I was really small, the building was owned by the late Joe Carpenter,” resident Abby Ridall recalled. Ridall was born in 1936, just a few doors up from the store. “Joe hired a friend by the name of Floyd Richards to run a grocery store there. Then it went on to become Stanton’s
General Store, a little candy store. We’d buy penny candy from Bruce and Annie Stanton. They sold ice cream and a few groceries like bread, eggs and milk. I can remember going up to Stanton’s for vanilla Dixie Cups. We’d lift the lid and lick off the ice cream and there would be a picture of a movie star under there.” After the Stantons moved,
ABINGTON JOURNAL/ADRIANE HEINE
See Store, Page 12 The corner of Abington Road and Clinton Street is home today to The Waverly General Store.
PAGE 4A
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The Abington Journal♦Clarks Summit, PA
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012
PennDOT, police aim to keep roads safe BY JOAN MEAD-MATSUI Abington Journal Correspondent
While the holiday season can be synonymous with merrymaking with family and friends, it is also a time of year when PennDOT reminds motorists to avoid drinking and drive if they are attending holiday parties. PennDOT and police statewide are joining forces for “Operation Safe Holiday,” an initiative including seat-belt, aggressivedriving and impaired driving enforcement aimed at keeping roadways safe . Operation Safe Holiday is part of a national program from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.“The program has been in place for several years. Each holiday season local police take
ABINGTON JOURNAL PHOTOS/ALEX SEELEY
Damian the magician’s combination of tricks and humor cause an eruption of laughter from four –year- old Gavin Anders of Chinchilla
Magical Christmas
ABOVE and BELOW: Santa makes his debut
part in Operation Safe Holiday,” said Michael S. Taluto, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, safety press officer, Dunmore. According to Taluto, the operation is underway, beginning with statewide Click It or Ticket seat-belt enforcement. “Through the New Year, police will also use sobriety checkpoints, roving patrols and regular traffic safety patrols to crack down on motorists who are speeding, driving aggressively or driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol.” Statistics are sobering. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 32,885 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2010. Thirty-one
TAX
vices while they work in Scranton and should help pay for them, city supporters of the Continued from Page 1 proposed commuter tax said. “I believe that Scranton resiapproved, it would need to be renewed again each year. Scran- dents are...overly taxed and currently taxed at probably in ton officials have said the tax will be a temporary measure to top three of wage taxes in the state right now as opposed to balance its budget. people that live in the outlying After a legal battle, Scranton was able to impose a commuter communities and travel into the tax in the early part of the 1990s, city who do use our services and but it did not last long. The city currently a pay a much lower tax,” said Frank Joyce, Scranton has been under financially discity council member and chair tressed status since 1992. One reason that could be cited of its financial committee. City officials said roughly for that status: the city’s shrink22,000 city workers do not reing tax base. According to the side within its borders. The tax, U.S. Census data, Scranton’s they said, would yield about population has dwindled over the second half of the 20th cen- $2.5 million the first year, and then $4 million the second. The tury. The city’s population was challenge of collecting the tax in well over 100,000 for much of its first year accounted for the that century but has hovered at gap from one year to the next. around 76,000 over the last Those numbers, however, were decade. called into question when the At the hearing, opponents of the commuter tax suggested the city revised them to $4 million for the first year and $6.7 milcity raise the tax on the earned lion for the second. With these incomes of its residents first numbers, the average tax burden before looking to commuters. on a resident would end up The city shot back, saying that around $300 per worker. As it its earned income tax, which is 3.4 percent, is already one of the stands, these new figures would highest in the state. Nonresident result in a budget surplus for 2013, an issue that concerned workers benefit from police protection, roads and other ser- the judges.
The annual Children’s Christmas Party at the Chinchilla Hose Co. was held Dec. 15. The event was sponsored by the Chinchilla Junior Firefighters and South Abington Lions Club. There were performances by Damien the Magician and well as free refreshment. Santa arrived on a fire engine.
Brad Bauman and Dan Munley can’t believe their eyes as Damian the Magician performs a card trick
percent (10,228) of those fatalities involved an alcohol-impaired driver. The holiday season is particularly dangerous. During December 2010, 2,597 people lost their lives in motor vehicle traffic crashes, and 30 percent (775) involved an alcohol-impaired driver. Data showed that more than twothirds (71%) of those killed in December 2010 were in alcohol-impaired crashes where a driver tested at a blood alcohol concentration of .15 grams per deciliter and above. PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch said, “If we all take the simple steps to buckle up, take our time and drive safe and sober, the holidays will be safer for everyone on Pennsylvania’s roadways.” The opposition consisted of the Lackawanna County Association of Boroughs, which included the group Scranton Taxing Our People, S.T.O.P., and Larissa Pawelski, a Throop resident who works in the city. Their main strategy was an attempt to prove that the city had not exhausted all possible revenue sources and therefore the commuter tax was unwarranted. “There’s an obligation on the part of the city to exhaust all of its internal revenues first,” said Armand Olivetti, attorney for the opposition. “And it’s easy to tax someone who can’t vote against you and who has to depend upon driving into work every day for a living...You’re pretty much stuck with the job you have these days.” A contingent of Abington area officials attended the hearing, including Bill Wicks, of Glenburn Twp.; Ronald Koldjeski, of Newton Twp.; as well as Marnie O’Dea Palmer and Keith Williams, both of Clarks Green Borough. “I think the city made the case for us,” said Wicks, who is also a member of S.T.O.P.’s legal committee. “I don’t believe they met the burden of Act 47 or the Serafini Amendment.”
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THE ABINGTON
Dear Santa, I love catnip.
JOURNAL
Makayla Crisp, left, and Chase Rosenkrans of Montdale choose Kermit. Find out more on Page 6.
Find out more about Baxter, shown, and what’s on the wish list of Griffin Pond Animal Shelter pets. See Page 5
An edition of The Times Leader
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Wilkes-Barre, Clarks Summit, Pa. Pa.
DECEMBER 26 TO JANUARY 2, 2013
50¢
In their own words: A.H. sends condolences staff had the opportunity to write personalized sympathy messages n the one -week anniversary during their lunch break. All letters will be mailed to the Newton Public of the shootings at Sandy School District and distributed to Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., Abington Heights teachers and families. “Every school wants to do someHigh School did its part to support thing,” Abington Heights Principal the grieving families and school Pamela Murray said. “It’s hard to community. cope with the magnitude of the loss, A memorial table was set up in ABINGTON JOURNAL/ROBERT TOMKAVAGE The names of the victims of the Sandy the middle of the cafeteria adorned but there’s been a great turnout of Hook Elementary School tragedy were students, faculty, and staff. It’s been with name cards of the victims displayed on a table, each with a candle. along with candles. Students and on the heads and minds of a lot of BY ROBERT TOMKAVAGE rtomkavage@theabingtonjournal.com
O
Scranton commuter tax denied
the kids. This was a nice way for our kids to express their condolences in a meaningful way directly to the parents and teachers of the victims.” One student, senior Cassidy Henry, wanted the families of several of the fallen students to know that they would not be forgotten. Henry researched the hobbies of some of the kids and designed personalized sympathy cards with illustrations. “I wanted everyone to realize
FIRST NIGHT SCRANTON: 14 YEARS OF DIVERSITY
BY GERARD NOLAN Abington Journal Correspondent
SCRANTON - A Scranton commuter tax proposal has been denied in a 51-page written decision handed down by a three-judge panel Dec. 19 in Lackawanna County Court. Bill Wicks, Glenburn Twp. supervisor and one of the commuter tax opponents, had expected the tax to be nixed. “We’re very pleased,” Wicks said. The city had sought to implement a 1 percent tax on the earned incomes of those who work in Scranton but do not reside there. The tax was expected to raise $4 million the first year and $6.7 million the second, which would come out of the earned incomes of 22,000 Scranton workers who resided outside the city limits. The city’s government voted to implement the tax over the summer for 2013. The tax, however, could not be imposed without court approval as mandated by law. The hearing took place over three days of testimony Dec. 11, 12 and 14. Opponents of the tax, called intervenors by See Tax, Page 7
INSIDE
The Abington Journal
Please enclose this label with any address changes, and mail to The Abington Journal, 211 S. State St,, Clarks Summit, PA, 18411
ArtsEtc. ...............................10 Calendar ..............................2 Classified.............................15 Crosswords ..........................5 Obituaries............................14 School ...............................7,8 Sports .................................14
these kids are not just numbers, they all have a story,” Henry said. “They are the most important part of the story. I wanted the families to know that people are thinking about the children, not just the tragedy aspect.” Murray wanted to host a program at the school to remember the victims of the tragedy. World Language Coordinator Marcy Curra See Letters, Page 7
Ransom grants range extension Billing dispute continues between Ransom Recreational Shooting Sports, LLC and township. BY ELIZABETH BAUMEISTER lbaumeister@theabingtonjournal.com
Damian the Magician delights children and adults at a December event in South Abington Township.
ABINGTON JOURNAL/ALEX SEELEY
Around the world in ONE NIGHT Diverse event on tap Nov. 31
Do you believe in magic?
F
A magician and mentalist will bring his brand of illusions to Scranton for its First Night Celebration on Dec. 31 for the 12th straight year. “This year I’m going be doing a sawing -in -half illusion, which
BY ELIZABETH BAUMEISTER lbaumeister@theabingtonjournal.com
irst Night Scranton, now on its 14th year, is a New Year’s Eve event known for its diversity. But this year’s theme of “Around the World” First Night chair people, from left: comay bring that reputation to a whole chairman Damian the Magician, honorary chairman Al Boscov and co-chairman See Event, Page 3 Doug Smith
BY GERARD NOLAN Abington Journal Correspondent
See Magic, Page 3
RANSOM TWP. - At its Dec. 17 meeting, the Ransom Township Planning Commission voted unanimously to extend its deadline for review of the development plans for Ransom Recreational Shooting Sports, LLC until August. 21, 2013. The extension request was tabled at the board’s previous meetings Oct. 15 and Nov. 19, due to an unresolved billing dispute with Ransom Recreational Shooting Sports, LLC. According to the township, the business owes money for engineering services regarding a rifle range development planned for 1500 Ransom Road. For an unspecified reason, however, invoices were not sent to the developer until they were several months outstanding. After receiving them, Ransom Recreational Shooting Sports, LLC Manager Andrew Massimilian expressed doubt that the full amount requested was legitimately owed. The Planning Commission decided at the Oct. 15 meeting to hold off on moving forward with the submitted plans until the billing dispute was resolved. Massimilian protested this decision, stating Section 506 of the Municipal Planning Code makes it illegal for the board to delay or deny the application based on the billSee Range, Page 6
Homemade masterpieces “There are presents I remember making. I remember every one of them. I think they are also going to remember the projects we’re doing with them.”
every little thing we can make; we make,” said their mother, Megan Hughes, who has made pending quality time with handmade gifts a tradition for children can be as eleyears. mentary as doing a craft Together, the family crafted together. Some tools of the trade most of the Christmas decoto have on hand throughout the rations that adorn their home year to inspire younger creative this year, as well as numerous minds, particularly during the gifts for Hannah’s friends and winter months, are paint, conMegan Hughes, Clarks Summit teachers. struction paper, glitter, glue, On childhood crafting “There are a couple of things children’s scissors, washable we collect, like our (Christmas) markers, beads for older chil“Doing crafts is a great way to houses, but the ornaments and dren and coloring books. the decorations in the front keep them (her children) from In the kitchen/dining area of ABINGTON JOURNAL/JOAN MEAD-MATSUI the Hughes home, Clarks Sum- sitting still playing video games. room on the large tree are most- Megan Hughes, 37, Clarks Summit and her daughter Hannah Hughes, ly handmade ornaments…,” mit, is a Christmas tree Hannah, I was raised very free with art. 5, crafted most of the Christmas decorations that adorn their home this My mother provided everything 5, and her brother, Harrison, 2, See Homemade, Page 7 year. I needed. And (in our house) decorated.
BY JOAN MEAD-MATSUI Abington Journal Correspondent
S
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2012
A new book by University of Scranton Psychology Professor John C. Norcross, Ph.D., was selected by The Wall Street Journal as one of the year’s best books. “Changeology: 5 Steps to Realizing your Goals and Resolutions” was among the just six “best guides to later life” highlighted in the Dec. 7 online issue (in print on Dec. 10). In the book, Dr. Norcross, an internationally recognized expert on behavior change, shares his science-based program for reshaping behavior and ensuring permanent change. The Clarks Summit resident explains why the process of self change is the same no matter what behavior is being altered and provides the steps and a structured timeline for lasting results. “Whether you’re hoping to quit smoking or gambling, commit to exercising more hours a week, eliminate fast food and bike to work, or learn a new skill that will earn you promotion, following the program outlined in this book can dramatically increase your chance of success,” said Dr. Norcross. “This practical program shows you exactly how to execute the steps necessary to change on your own. “Changeology” explains: how to maintain motivation by the push-pull method; how to assemble a support team to help you reach your goal; how to maintain new behaviors; how to control your environment; and how to manage slips and resist the urge to relapse. The book is accompanied by a free, interactive web page (www.ChangeologyBook.com). Dr. Mehmet Oz has endorsed the book, saying “Dr. Norcross has revolutionized the psychology of change and now offers a remarkable fivestep program for more than 50 common complaints that plague many of us. You can learn to change your life today.” Dr. Norcross, a Distinguished University Fellow at Scranton, also serves as an adjunct professor of psychiatry at SUNY Upstate Medical College, and is a board-certified clinical psychologist in part-time practice. He has written more than 300 publications and edited or co-written 22 professional books. Dr. Norcross’s research on behavior change and New Year’s resolutions has been featured in hundreds of media outlets including USAToday, The New York Times, Time, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, The Washington Post, National Public Radio, the Dr. Oz Radio Show, the BBC, and network morning shows. “Changeology,” published by Simon & Schuster, becomes available Dec. 25.
HOMEMADE
Continued from Page 1
said Megan. The larger tree in the living room includes garland made from popcorn and I-Cord knitted garland made by Megan. This year five-year-old Hannah created Christmas cards and has been busy making beaded bracelets for her friends. “Friendship bracelets are very big with kids,” she said. Regarding the countless hours she has devoted to craft time with her children, Megan explained, “It is quality time. There’s no television. We don’t have music on. We sit together. We really like working with our hands, and I think it’s important to have your kids active outside when it’s nice and active inside when it isn’t.” She added, “We’re very lackadaisical about the rules with crafting. It’s difficult for me to get her (Hannah) to tell me about her day…so this kind of structures her to talk to me
WWW.THEABINGTONJOURNAL.COM PAGE 7A
Waverly Twp. approves budget
you’re a mom, you don’t like to be away from the kids so much and it’s even more fun to be there and see your children doing things together and having fun, and you’re having your friends around at the same time. “Working with the kids is learning time and we’re letting them be creative and we’re actively participating A cottonball, twig and glitter in what they’re doing. snowman craft designed by There are presents I reMegan, Hannah and Harrison member making (as a Hughes. child). I remember every one of them. I think they about her day… To me (our children) are also there’s nothing nicer than going to remember the handmade gifts.” projects we’re doing with At Evelyn Walters’ them.” house in South Abington The families also spend Township, she and her two children, Jake, 5 and Evie, time together throughout 7, spent an afternoon with the year, engaging their friends, Kathy Platt and her children in outdoor activities with paint and other son, six-year-old Calvin, crafting sand art ornaments crafts. Platt added, “We do a lot using sand and feathers. They also planned to make of things throughout the gingerbread men and other year… We like it because the mothers get together Christmas- inspired projects. The crowd that gath- and we share ideas and it’s ers on a regular basis often nice for the kids to be toincludes additional friends gether. It’s a structured play…It’s nice to see them and their children. do things together.” Walters said, “…When
The supervisor asked if a tree could be removed because it WAVERLY TWP. – The blocks the sight of cars combudget for 2013 as published ing from Glenburn Road. was approved by Waverly James, along with several Township Supervisors at the others, surveyed the area and Dec. 10 meeting. disagreed that a tree needs to Public Works Director Tho- be removed. mas James will invite a repreInstead, James installed a sentative from PPL to visit the 22-foot STOP bar and painted township building about the a double yellow line on the purchase of a generator. The intersection. generator will control power Local recycling centers will in the municipal building, but now accept paper and cardwill not reach the equipment board in one bin. Recycling in the township garage. centers are accepting electronA supervisor from Glenic devices after a new state burn Township. approached policy refuses electronic deWaverly Township. about a vices in landfills. Electronics concern at the intersection of are accepted anytime with no Oakford and Glenburn roads. fee. BY BRITTNEY PIERCE Abington Journal Correspondent
TAX
dent Keith Williams said he is pleased with the court’s decision. Continued from Page 1 “There comes a point where the court, attempted to discount Scranton’s claims that it one community shouldn’t needed the tax to be financial- have to be so reliant on the other for tax money and for ly solvent. The city mainrevenues,” Williams said. tained that it had exhausted “There need to be other plans all other forms of raising revenue and cutting costs and that should be developed and implemented where communeeded the tax to balance its ters don’t have to bear the budget. Clarks Green Council Presi- brunt of these expenses.”
PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENTS FOR NON-MARRRIED COUPLES
Prenuptial agreements are contracts commonly used by couples entering second marriages, who view them as useful estate planning tools. As unromantic as it may seem, prenuptial agreements also anticipate the possibility of divorce and dictate its terms. While “prenups” have traditionally been associated with married couples, they are no longer necessarily so. Unmarried couples have also increasingly been seeking legal protections through cohabitation agreements, which, like prenups, are designed to protect each person’s assets, address child-custody issues, and determine support obligations. According to a recent poll by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 39 percent of divorce attorneys have seen an increase in cohabitation agreements between live-in couples over the past five years.
Jake Walters, Kathy Platt, Calvin Platt, Evelyn Walters and Evie Walters craft sand art ornaments using sand and feathers in South Abington Township.
LETTERS
ABINGTON JOURNAL/ROBERT TOMKAVAGE
Abington Heights senior Cassidy Henry took time to research the interests of several victims and create personalized sympathy cards.
school also observed a moment of silence for the victims at 9:30 a.m., almost the Continued from Page 1 exact time a gunman entered created the idea to send sym- the Connecticut school last week and began the shooting phony notes to the district. which killed 20 students and Staff members Virginia Grande and Patty Andrisani six adults. also helped organize the event. “It’s a subtle, but meaningful way to remember the lives that were lost,” Curra said. “The students really took a lot of time to write personalized messages.” According to Murray, the
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