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The Times Leader timesleader.com

WILKES-BARRE, PA

SUNDAY, APRIL 15, 2012

$1.50

MISCONDUCT

LOCAL DESCENDANTS OF TITANIC SURVIVORS

Living in memory

20 on board headed here

Events mark Titanic’s 100th By LEFTERIS PITARAKIS and JILL LAWLESS Associated Press

By TOM MOONEY Times Leader Correspondent

o most Americans, the story of the great ocean liner RMS Titanic is drawn from movies. It’s a love epic, a tale of corporate greed or a panorama of a vanished world of sharp class distinctions, all starring famous actors and actresses. To some Wyoming Valley families, however, the name “Titanic” calls up memories of their own ancestors confronting death in the freezing North Atlantic with courage and steadfastness. That is because nearly 20 of the more than 2,200 people on board AIMEE DILGER/THE TIMES LEADER were headed for Wilkes-Barre. Mae Thomas with photos of her mother and uncle, who were on Titanic with Today, April 15, is the 100th anniMae’s baby brother, Assid. Uncle Charles did not survive. Charles led the way versary of the disaster. Why so many bound for one small up from the third-class area and found a woman on a boat to take Assid. city? To historian William V. Lewis Jr., who has studied the local contingent, there’s no mystery. It was a case of mostly related people from Hardine, Lebanon, following a standard immigrant pattern of heading for a town where family and friends had preceded them. They

ABOARD MS BALMORAL — In the birthplace of the Titanic, residents gathered for a choral requiem. In the North Atlantic, above the ship’s final resting place, passengers were to pray as a band struck up a hymn and three floral wreaths were cast onto the waves. A century after the great ship went down with the loss of 1,500 lives, events around the globe marked a tragedy that retains a titanic grip on the world’s imagination — an icon of Edwardian luxury that became, in a few dark hours 100 years ago, an enduring emblem of tragedy. Helen Edwards, one of 1,309 See 100TH, Page 10A

See TITANIC, Page 10A

In this April 10, 1912, file photo, the liner Titanic leaves Southampton, England, on its maiden voyage.

Colombia summit scandal widens

Some U.S. military implicated with Secret Service agents in incident involving prostitutes. By JULIE PACE and LIBARDO CARDONA Associated Press

CARTAGENA, Colombia — An embarrassing scandal involving prostitutes and Secret Service agents deepened Saturday as 11 agents were placed on leave, and the agency designed to protect President Barack Obama had to offer regret for the The allegamess over- tions were an shadowing his embarrassdiplomatic mission to La- ment for an tin America. American The contro- president on versy also expanded to the foreign soil U.S. military, and threatwhich an- ened to upend nounced five White House service members staying at efforts to the same hotel keep his trip as the agents focused on in Colombia may have been boosting ecoinvolved in nomic ties misconduct as with fastwell. They growing Latin were confined to their quar- America. ters in Colombia and ordered not to have contact with others. All the alleged activities took place before Obama arrived Friday for meetings with 33 other regional leaders. The allegations were an embarrassment for an American president on foreign soil and threatened to upend White House efforts to keep his trip focused on boosting economic ties with fast-growing Latin America. Obama was holding two days of meetings at the Summit of the Americas with leaders from across the vast region. See SERVICE, Page 12A

PUBLIC HOUSING IN COUNTY

Number of applicants waiting for subsidized unit to be available is more than twice inventory

Demand for shelter keeps growing By STEVE MOCARSKY smocarsky@timesleader.com

CLARK VAN ORDEN/THE TIMES LEADER

Danelle Jones is currently staying at Ruth’s Place, a shelter for homeless women in Wilkes-Barre, while looking for affordable housing in Luzerne County.

INSIDE

A NEWS Obituaries Local Click

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Danelle Jones spends at least four hours a day looking for an affordable place for her and her two sons to live. Another four hours are spent looking for a job. “Every day, I’ve been out looking at apartments, but people want way too much, especially when you’re on a fixed income,” said the 30-year-old Jones, who lost her job as a certified nursing assistant. Now staying at Ruth’s Place

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House of Hope, a shelter for homeless women in WilkesBarre, Jones recently submitted an application to the Sherman Hills subsidized housing complex in the city. She was told there’s an approximately threemonth wait. At least there’s some light at the end of the tunnel now, given that she had been on a waiting list for a three-bedroom unit with the Luzerne County Housing Authority for nearly three years, Jones said.

B PEOPLE Birthdays C SPORTS Outdoors

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D BUSINESS Motley Fool E VIEWS Editorial

PUBLIC HOUSING SUPPLY AND DEMAND Data from various housing authorities Eff.: Efﬁciency apartment BR: Bedrooms

INSIDE: Graphic showing location of public subsidized housing in county, Page 12A

Units in Luzerne County Applicants on waiting list 3,000

Dave Fagula, executive director of the Luzerne County Housing Authority, said a two- to three-year wait is not uncommon. And he expects it to get worse if the federal government continues to make cuts on social safety net programs such as housing assistance.

2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000 500 0

Eff.

1 BR 2 BR 3 BR 4 BR 5 BR Mark Guydish/The Times Leader

See HOUSING, Page 12A

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PAGE 12A SUNDAY, APRIL 15, 2012

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THE TIMES LEADER

www.timesleader.com

PUBLIC HOUSING IN LUZERNE COUNTY PITTSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY

5 authorities, 42 housing complexes, 3,218 units

Locations are approximate

WA SH ING TON ST. N.

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The Secret Service did not disclose the nature of the misconduct. The White House said Obama had been briefed about the incidents but would not comment on his reaction. “The president does have full confidence in the United States Secret Service,” presidential spokesman Jay Carney said. Carney insisted the matter was more a distraction for the media than Obama. But Secret Service assistant director Paul Morrissey said in a statement: “We regret any distraction from the Summit of the Americas this situation has caused.” Rep. Peter King, chairman of the House Homeland Security

Plains Twp.

Kingston Plymouth

4 5

WILKES-BARRE HOUSING AUTHORITY

. N ST TO MP RTHA NO

Continued from Page 1A

12 13

15 16 17 6

Swoyersville

SERVICE

8 9 10 2

Edwardsville

HOUSING

2 5

Luzerne

21 20 19

Danelle Jones, who lost her job as a certified nursing assistant, says she spends at least four hours a day seeking housing.

Committee, said after he was briefed on Saturday that “close to” all 11 of the agents involved had brought women back to their rooms at a hotel separate from where Obama is now staying. The New York Republican said the women were “presumed to be prostitutes” but investigators were interviewing the agents. King said he was told that anyone visiting the hotel overnight was required to leave identification at the front desk and leave the hotel by 7 a.m. When a woman failed to do so, it raised questions among hotel staff and police, who investigated. They found the woman with the agent in the hotel room and a dispute arose over whether the agent should have paid her. King said he was told that the agent did eventually pay the woman.

Exeter

Kingston Twp. (Trucksville)

CLARK VAN ORDEN/THE TIMES LEADER

Dave Ritter, director of housing for the Commission on Economic Opportunity in WilkesBarre, said CEO has seen a continual increase in requests for Continued from Page 1A housing assistance over the last Fagula says the considerable several years. stock of public and subsidized “We see a lot of families comhousing units in Luzerne Coun- peting for a limited number of ty is just not enough to meet the safe, affordable units. A lot of demand in today’s economy. times, housing authorities will have long waiting lists. We have Thousands on waiting lists hundreds of families looking for A Times Leader survey of the housing,” Ritter said. five housing authorities in LuCEO refers clients to apply at zerne County, which include the housing authorities and privately county authority and city au- owned subsidized housing develthorities in Hazleton, Nanti- opments, as well as to the few coke, Pittston and Wilkes-Barre, transitional housing agencies, found there are 20 high-rises Ritter said. and 21 family developments ofTransitional housing, run by fering public subsinonprofit agendized housing. Tax credits are availcies, is designed Those complexes able for developers of to be a short-term contain nearly 3,300 solution for apartments or low-income housing, homeless families homes ranging from but developers would and individuals efficiencies to five- rather build in places until affordable bedroom units. But such as Philadelphia housing becomes the number of appliavailable. cants waiting for and Lancaster, where The waiting one of those units to fair market rents are lists for transibecome available is substantially higher tional housing are more than double large as well. and they can derive the inventory – Kristen Topol6,716 as of March more rental income to ski, director of 30. pay off their construc- Ruth’s Place, said The figures do not tion loans, said Liz the shelter houses include the 25 pri18 to 20 women vate developments Hersh, executive direc- per night. Last in Luzerne County tor of the Housing year, Ruth’s Place under contract with Alliance of Pennsylvasheltered 256 the U.S. Depart- nia. homeless women. ment of Housing “A lot has to do and Urban Developwith the job marment to provide subsidized ket. And there are landlords who housing to low-income individ- can no longer afford their mortuals and families. Waiting lists gages, so their tenants become for those units also are quite displaced. I’ve been in housing 15 long, officials have said. years now and certainly there’s a Generally, a low-income resi- trend – a need for more safe, affordent will pay 30 percent of dable housing,” Topolski said. household income toward rent and the difference is subsidized HUD formula seen as with funding from HUD, Fagula problem said. Several factors are contributHUD sets fair market rents, ing to the affordable housing criwhich differ according to metro- sis, not only in Luzerne County, politan areas, and gives housing but nationally. authorities annual allocations Locally, housing directors say to make up the difference be- HUD’s formula for fair market tween what the low-income rents presents a major obstacle. renters pay and the market rent. Fagula, of the county housing HUD also funds the Housing authority, said the fair market Choice Voucher Program, com- rent set by HUD for the Wilkesmonly referred to as Section 8 Barre/Scranton metropolitan arand administered by local hous- ea is unrealistically low – it was ing authorities. reduced 7.5 percent – so landUnder that program, an appli- lords are less willing to accept cant who meets income guide- Housing Choice vouchers. lines receives a voucher to preAnd, HUD bases next year’s sent to a landlord. The voucher funding partly on how much guarantees that HUD will pay funding was used this year. If apthe landlord the difference be- plicants who hold vouchers can’t tween 30 percent of the individ- find landlords willing to take ual’s income and the fair market them this year, funding for Secrent in the area. tion 8 will be cut next year, he There were nearly 1,200 indi- said. viduals or families on waiting And, Fagula said, HUD has lists for Housing Choice vouch- been underfunding housing auers in Luzerne County as of thorities for several years, in conMarch 30. flict with what HUD’s own formulas determine authorities should Continual rise in requests

Duryea

ST.

$1,752,257 $2,468,936 $1,689,670 $9,866,267 $15,000,000 $30,777,130

GO RD ON

Hazleton Nanticoke Pittston Wilkes-Barre Luzerne County Total

4 3

2012 projected budget

CA RE Y AV E.

Authority

Fairview Twp.

Shickshinny 4

NANTICOKE HOUSING AUTHORITY

OTHER SUBSIDIZED HOUSING

Section 8 vouchers

HAZLETON HOUSING AUTHORITY 4

2 3

Hazleton Housing Authority 328 Nanticoke Housing Authority 51 Pittston Housing Authority 132 Wilkes-Barre Housing Authority 657 Luzerne County Housing Authority 1,115 Total 2,283 Other subsidized housing

Authority-owned, non-public units Privately-owned, non-public units

Authority/facility

Location

Luzerne County Housing Authority 1 Frank Crossin Towers Brown St. 2 Edwardsville Scattered Sites Various 3 Exeter Apts. Schooley Ave. 4 Glen Lyon Apts. Rock St. 5 Glen Lyon Scattered Sites Various 6 Dundee Apts. Middle Road 7 Kingston Manor First Ave. 8 Luzerne Apts. Ann Court 9 Luzerne Apts. Main & Walnut 10 Luzerne Towers Bennett St. 11 Fairview Apts. Fairview Drive 12 Plains Family Second St. 13 Plains Manor N. Main St. 14 Plymouth Family New St. 15 Dan Flood Buildings E. Main St. 16 Kingston Gardens E. Main St. 17 Lee Park Towers E. Main St. 18 Shickshinny Apts. W. Vine St. 19 Roosevelt Manor Tripp St. 20 Swoyersville Elderly Hemlock St. 21 Meadowcrest Meadowcrest Drive Hazleton Housing Authority 1 Mine Street Building Mine St. 2 Hazleton Twins Juniper St. 3 Hazleton Twins Juniper St. 4 Birch Street Family Birch St. Nanticoke Housing Authority 1 Nanticoke Towers Nanticoke Ave. 2 Park Towers E. Green St. 3 Oplinger Towers E. Main St. 4 Nanticoke Terrace S. Gemini & Enterprise 5 Nanticoke Terrace South St. & Lincoln Ave. 6 Apollo Circle Apollo Circle Pittston Housing Authority 1 Appollo Apartments S. Main St. 2 Infantino Towers Kennedy Blvd. 3 Panama Street Family Panama St. 4 Riverview Manor Riverview 5 Winter Street Family Winter St.. Wilkes-Barre Housing Authority 1 Lincoln Towers Lincoln Plaza 2 Boulevard Town Homes Wilkes-Barre Blvd. 3 East End Towers Scott St. 4 South View Manor Monroe St. 5 Valley View Terrace Hill St. 6 Mineral Springs Village East View Drive

Municipality

Efﬁciency

One Two Three bedrm bedrm bedrm

Four bedrm

Five bedrm

Type

Year built

Duryea Edwardsville Exeter Glen Lyon Glen Lyon Hanover Twp. Kingston Luzenre Luzerne Luzerne Mountaintop Plains Twp. Plains Twp. Plymouth Plymouth Plymouth Plymouth Shickshinny Swoyersville Swoyersville Trucksville

0 0 0 0 0 0 40 0 0 56 0 0 0 0 60 60 94 30 0 18 0

100 0 20 4 2 6 0 5 2 16 26 15 50 0 36 36 49 20 8 11 21

0 10 50 20 2 20 0 5 4 8 54 19 0 20 3 0 6 0 20 0 54

0 14 44 20 7 20 0 5 4 0 20 20 0 25 0 0 0 0 20 0 25

0 0 10 0 0 4 0 3 2 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

High-rise Family Family Family Family Family High-rise Family Family High-rise Family Family High-rise Family High-rise High-rise High-rise High-rise Family High-rise Family

1987 1981* 1976 1981 1981* 1977 1977 1979 1979 1978 1980 1981 1993 1981 1974 1981 1974 1978 1979 1987 1980

Hazleton Hazleton Hazleton Hazleton

60 32 32 0

37 17 17 12

2 1 1 30

0 0 0 50

0 0 0 8

0 0 0 0

High-rise High-rise High-rise Family

1970 1969 1969 1968

Nanticoke Nanticoke Nanticoke Nanticoke Nanticoke Nanticoke

24 38 26 0 0 0

22 36 112 8 4 0

4 2 6 12 12 35

0 0 0 24 8 32

0 0 0 6 0 8

0 0 0 0 0 0

High-rise High-rise Family Family Family Family

1965 1968 1972 1965 1968 1972

Pittston Pittston Pittston Pittston Pittston

32 0 0 0 0

20 60 8 0 6

0 0 14 42 17

0 0 22 40 22

0 0 6 8 5

0 0 0 0 0

High-rise High-rise Family Family Family

1970 1973 1967 1973

Wilkes-Barre Wilkes-Barre Wilkes-Barre Wilkes-Barre Wilkes-Barre Wilkes-Barre

100 0 63 34 42 0

100 20 33 52 135 0

0 60 4 4 4 24

0 100 0 0 0 35

0 20 0 0 0 25

Source: Housing Authorities

receive based on their needs. “Last year, we only received 78 percent of the fees we earned. This year, we only expect to receive 80 percent,” Fagula said. Liz Hersh, executive director of the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, said the fair market rent HUD set for Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton discourages private developers from building more affordable housing here.

Tax credits are available for developers of low-income housing, but developers would rather build in places such as Philadelphia and Lancaster, where fair market rents are substantially higher and they can derive more rental income to pay off their construction loans, Hersh said. Adding to the housing problem are natural gas industry

workers in Pennsylvania’s northern counties. They can afford higher rents, so landlords there are raising rents and forcing out lower-income tenants, who are moving south to find cheaper housing, Hersh said. Hersh and Fagula agree that HUD needs to re-examine its fair market rent formulas and state and federal legislators should allocate more funding

237 3,473

0 High-rise 1968 0 Family 1971 0 High-rise 1972 0 High-rise 1972 0 High-rise 1975 5 Family 1975 *Denotes year acquisition of units began Mark Guydish/The Times Leader

for housing assistance, or more Americans are going to become homeless. “I think sometimes folks in Harrisburg believe (HUD funding represents) a bunch of bureaucrats grabbing at dollar bills. But it’s people with mental and physical disabilities, senior citizens, people who have fallen on hard times, and it’s a helping hand for them,” Hersh said.

The incident was reported to the U.S. embassy, prompting further investigation, King said The 11 employees in question were special agents and Uniformed Division Officers. None were assigned to directly protect Obama. All were sent home and replaced, Morrissey said, given “the nature of the allegations” and a zero tolerance policy on personal misconduct. The Secret Service says the incidents have had no bearing on its ability to provide security for Obama’s stay in Colombia. Another jolt came Saturday when the U.S. Southern Command said five service members assigned to support the Secret Service violated their curfew and may have been involved in inappropriate conduct. Carney AP PHOTO said it was part of the same incident involving the Secret Ser- President Barack Obama sits in front of a large video screen displaying an image of a U.S. national flag at the CEO Summit of the Americas, in Cartagena, Colombia, Saturday. vice.

56 ways to have fun on your 4th

4 ways for you to get healthy

Find out what the founding fathers would do to celebrate.

While Congress dawdles on healthcare, you can act.

THE GUIDE

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FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 2012

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HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL DEBATE

HIGH COURT KEEPS LAW ALIVE

Area mixed on landmark court decision

Historic ruling upholds Obama’s massive health care overhaul. GOP vows repeal. By MARK SHERMAN Associated Press

WASHINGTON — In a momentous ruling touching virtually every American, the Supreme Court narrowly upheld President Barack Obama’s historic health care overhaul Thursday with the unlikely help of conservative Chief Justice John Roberts. But the decision also gave Republicans unexpected ammunition to energize supporters in the battle for the White House and to fight “Obamacare” as a new tax on people who don’t obtain health insurance. Roberts’ vote, along with those of the court’s four liberal justices, preserved the largest expansion of the nation’s social safety net in more than 45 years, including the hotly debated core requirement that nearly everyone have health insurance or pay a penalty. The aim is to extend coverage to more than 30 million people who now are uninsured The 5-4 decision meant the huge overhaul, still taking effect, could proceed and pick up momentum over the next several years, with an impact on the way that countless Americans receive and pay for their personal medi-

Citizens, politicians, health care providers and insurers weigh divisive ruling. By ANDREW M. SEDER aseder@timesleader.com

AP PHOTO

Backers of President Obama’s health care law celebrate Thursday outside the Supreme Court after the court’s ruling was announced.

cal care. The ruling handed Obama a campaign-season victory in rejecting arguments that Congress went too far in approving the plan. However, Republicans quickly indicated they would try to use the decision against him.

At the White House, Obama declared, “Whatever the politics, today’s decision was a victory for people all over this country.” Blocks away, GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney renewed his criticism of the overhaul, calling it “bad law” and promising to

work to repeal it if elected in November. Demonstrators for and against the law crowded the grounds outside the Supreme Court Building on Capitol Hill as Roberts, sitting at the center of the nine blackrobed justices inside, announced

the decision to a packed courtroom. A narrow decision Breaking with the other conservative justices, Roberts read See COURT, Page 6A

WILKES-BARRE -- Steve Simko, a father of four, spoke glowingly about the personal impact of President Obama’s signature health care reform law as he led a group of supporters at a rally on Public Square on Thursday. Simko, 64, of Harding, Simko will soon retire as an electrical engineer but wishes to care for his daughter, a 21-year-old who’s pregnant with her second child, and his mother, an 89year-old on dialysis. “In my retirement, I’ll be using all the Medicaid and Medicare available to me. But until then, my daughter will be covered on my plan under the new law,” said Simko, because the Affordable Care Act allows children to stay on their parents’ plans until age 26. Regional health insurers, health providers and individuals lauded the Supreme Court’s decision Thursday to uphold the law. Others chided the court for its ruling and the president and Congress for approving it in the first place. They vowed to continue to try to repeal it. “It’s a great day for health care in America,” said Dr. Dorothy Anthony, a licensed chiropractor and nutritionist. See RALLY, Page 6A

INSIDE A NEWS: Local 3A Nation & World 5A Obituaries 8A Birthdays 12A Editorials 13A B SPORTS: 1B Scoreboard 2B Business 9B D CLASSIFIED: 1D THE GUIDE: Movies 10 Crossword/Horoscope 14-15 Television 16

WEATHER Layla Wilkin. Mostly sunny and hot. High 93. Low 67. Details, Page 10B

09815 10011

Homeless and losing hope

Women living in shelter told of losing assistance even before budget is passed.

By EDWARD LEWIS elewis@timesleader.com

By STEVE MOCARSKY smocarsky@timesleader.com

WILKES-BARRE – Homeless for about two years now, Martha Hart was looking forward to finally moving in to her own place next week. Her hopes were dashed on Wednesday when she received her mail at Ruth’s Place shelter for women and opened a letter from the state Department of Public Welfare. The letter said her twice-a-month general assistance cash payments that total $205 per month would cease as of July 1. “My housing was approved, I could move in tomorrow,” said Hart, 54. “But I’m still waiting on an appeal for Social Security Disability. I won’t be able to pay my rent without cash assistance.” In addition to other cuts, Gov. Tom Corbett’s latest budget proposal includes the elimination of

Pittston’s second fatal fire in just 8 days

CLARK VAN ORDEN/THE TIMES LEADER

Patty Giovagnoli, left, and Martha Hart, both homeless and disabled, face the imminent loss of their $205 in monthly cash assistance under the proposed state budget.

$150 million in funding for the General Assistance program, which provides a cash benefit to disabled adults who can’t work. Eliminating the benefit would mean eliminating the sole source of income overnight for 70,000 disabled Pennsylvanians and potentially leaving many of them

homeless, advocates for the poor have said. Hart’s plight began two years ago when her health began to take a turn for the worse. “I lost a lot. I had a great job, a three-bedroom house, a car, and I See HOMELESS, Page 14A

PITTSTON – Kristen Price stayed up late watching television in her North Main Street house early Thursday morning when she smelled smoke from a fire that killed her neighbor. Price said she went outside and immediately noticed the odor becoming stronger. “I walked up to the front and the yard was filled with smoke and I looked down the driveway and smoke was just coming out the basement door,” Price said. Price was unable to go inside the neighbor’s house at 757 N. Main St. to find Sharon Walko. Walko, 61, was found dead in the kitchen by firefighters. Luzerne County Acting Coroner Bill Lisman said Walko died from carbon monoxide poisoning. Her death was ruled an accident, Lisman said. No autopsy is scheduled. It is the second fatal fire in Pittston in the last eight days.

INSIDE: For Sharon Walko’s obituary, see Page 8A.

Bernard Edwards, 55, Walko who had to use a wheelchair due to amputations to both legs, died in a blaze in his apartment at 194 S. Main St. on June 20. He died from smoke inhalation. The cause of last week’s fire has not been determined but was not considered suspicious, Pittston Fire Chief Jim Rooney said. Rooney said multiple fire departments in the Greater Pittston Area responded to the second-alarm blaze when Price called 911 at 2:15 a.m. Thursday. There was heavy smoke and fire as firefighters entered the See FIRE, Page 14A

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If GOP plan wins, we’ll all lose, area Dems say Budget proposal means cuts in services to most vulnerable and tax hikes, group says. By STEVE MOCARSKY smocarsky@timesleader.com

WILKES-BARRE – With Coughlin High School as the backdrop, four Democratic elected officials and a congressional candidate on Thursday sharply criticized the Republican state budget plan. Their message: The proposals are bad for everyone – except big corporations and the natural gas industry – and will force increases in school property taxes. Saturday at midnight is the deadline for the Legislature to adopt a 2012-13 budget, and Democrats are pushing hard to sway public opinion against the agenda of a GOP-controlled Legislature and Republican governor. “The budget that (Gov. Tom

He said massive cuts to education at the state level will negatively affect students and senior citizen homeowners. “It means the school districts have to raise taxes. So my first message is to senior citizens of Northeastern Pennsylvania: When your school … property taxes go up even though you’re on fixed incomes, Gov. Corbett did this to you,” Cartwright said. He called 10 percent cuts to social service programs totaling $84 million a “caregiver tax” because CLARK VAN ORDEN/THE TIMES LEADER cuts to child care will force the responsibility on grandparents while Local Democrats gather in front of Coughlin High School in Wilkes-Barre to talk about the impact of the Republican state low-income parents are at work. budget proposals on the region. From left are Exeter Councilman The elimination of funding for Lawrence J. Dellegrotto, Wyoming Mayor Bob Boyer, Wilkes-Barre $200 monthly cash assistance “to Mayor Tom Leighton, Wyoming Area School Board member John theabsoluteneediestandmostvulBolin and 17th District congressional candidate Matt Cartwright. nerable Pennsylvanians” during an economic downturn is “insane,” he Corbett) has come up with after ne- that’s an outrage,” said attorney said, and an 8 percent cut to the Degotiating behind closed doors with Matt Cartwright, Democratic partment of Environmental ProRepublicans and after (party-line nominee in the17th Congressional tection, which is responsible for policingagrowingMarcellusShale votes) in committee is a budget District.

Sandusky collects pension in prison

success (and) being crime-free, the greater your income and the less chance of having interaction with the criminal justice system,” he said. Wyoming Area School Board member John Bolin said his district luckily had a reserve it dipped into to avoid teacher layoffs. Corbett had several options for boosting education revenue such as increasing the state sales tax by1percent or taxing the Marcellus Shale industry on natural gas extraction, he said. Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton said his concern is that the effects of state cuts will trickle back to local government. “WilkesBarre is no different than any other city that is struggling. Look at Scranton and Reading. Harrisburg filed bankruptcy. We need the support of state government to help a city like Wilkes-Barre continue to serve its residents and taxpayers,” he said.

HOMELESS

the Senate, and they are the ones who want this bill to be passed.” Donna Morgan, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Public Welfare, said the letters that were sent to Hart, Giovagnoli and thousands of others were draft letters that were inadvertently sent prematurely. Morgan said the letters are not valid unless and until amendments to the Public Welfare Code are made in conjunction with the passage of the 2012-13 state budget. She said DPW posted a notice stating such on its website and contacted all county assistance offices to inform them of the error, but she said no other notices would be sent to General Assistance recipients. She also noted the changes, if adopted, are expected to affect about 61,000 General Assistance recipients. Pregnant women and single mothers can still receive the assistance she said, adding that medical assistance will not be cut to former recipients. But “medical assistance only goes so far,” Giovagnoli said. “If you don’t have cash assistance, how do you pay your co-pay for your medication? … I’ll have to go to the hospital just to get it.” Giovagnoli said the funding cut actually gives disabled women incentive to become pregnant so they can qualify for assistance. “It is their only source of income and (eliminating it) greatly impacts their ability to find safe, suitable housing,” Ruth’s Place Director Kristen Topolski said of General Assistance. “People who are on it and living in incomebased apartments on the $205, how are they going to pay their rents? They’re going to end up in a homeless shelter,” she said.

Continued from Page 1A

By ANNE DANAHY McClatchy Newspapers

BELLEFONTE -- Jerry Sandusky may be in prison, but that hasn’t brought an end to his pension payments. The convicted child molester retired from Penn State as an assistant football coach after the 1999 season. According to the State Employees’ Retirement System, he received a lump sum retirement payment of $148,272 upon retirement. Along with that, he has been getting monthly payments. He is currently receiving $4,904 a month. Between September 1999 and June 2004, he had been receiving $4,615, according to SERS. The payment increased because he was eligible for a cost-of-living adjustment at that time. He was an active SERS member from March 1969 to the end of June 1999. Sandusky was earning an average of $101,787 when he retired. If he dies, his survivor will get a monthly annuity that’s about half what he is getting now. The only way SERS is allowed to stop making payments to a participant is if the recipient is convicted of what is known as an Act 140 crime. Legislation is pending in the General Assembly that would change that, including a bill from GOP state Rep. Fred Keller. "The current list of offenses which trigger forfeiture of a public pension is not broad enough in scope," Keller said in a news release

drilling and pipeline industry, comes at a time when those and other corporations are getting $275 million in state tax breaks. “Let’s be realistic,” said Exeter Councilman Larry Dellegrotto. “Everyone needs to share the burden of these tough economic times. But Republicans want to let their corporate friends off the hook while the middle class families and workers pay the price. … By focusing on small business, not large corporate interests, Democrats believe the middle class must come first by making everyone pay their fair share.” Wyoming Mayor Bob Boyer said his biggest concern is a 10 percent cut to human and social services. “You’re going to see that spill over in the streets,” he said. “Prisonsneedfunding,butwhen you divert funding to prisons, that’s where we’re going to see the implications. The more education you have, the greater the chance of

AP PHOTO

Susan Clark of Washington demonstrates against President Barack Obama’s health care law Thursday while awaiting the court’s ruling in Washington.

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harmful law in its entirety,” he said. But Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said “Passing the Affordable Care Act was the greatest single step in generations toward ensuring access to affordable, quality health care for every American, regardless of where they live or how much money they make.” House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi cast the decision as vindication for her work to secure passagage. “This decision is a victory for the American people,” she said. After the ruling, Republican campaign strategists said Romney will use it to continue campaigning against “Obamacare” — the name the GOP gave the plan In derision, though many Democrats now accept it — and in attacking the president’s sig-

nature health care program as a tax increase. “Obama might have his law, but the GOP has a cause,” said veteran campaign adviser Terry Holt. An added safety net More than eight in 10 Americans already have health insurance. But for most of the 50 million who are uninsured, the ruling offers the promise of guaranteed coverage at affordable prices. Lower-income and many middle-class families will be eligible for subsidies to help pay premiums starting in 2014. There’s also an added safety net for all Americans, insured and uninsured. Starting in 2014, insurance companies will not be able to deny coverage for medical treatment, nor can they charge more to people with health problems. Seniors also benefit from the law through better Medicare coverage for those with high prescription costs, and no copayments for preventive care.

But hospitals, nursing homes, and many other service providers may struggle once the Medicare cuts used to finance the law really start to bite. Illegal immigrants are not entitled to the new insurance coverage under the law. Challenge for the states The health care overhaul focus will now quickly shift from Washington to state capitals. Only 14 states, plus Washington, D.C., have adopted plans to set up the new health insurance markets called for under the law. Called exchanges, the new markets are supposed to be up and running on Jan. 1, 2014. People buying coverage individually, as well as small businesses, will be able to shop for private coverage from a range of competing insurers. Most Republican-led states, including large ones such as Texas and Florida, have been counting on the law to be overturned and have failed to do the considerable spade work needed to set up exchanges.

ended up selling everything to survive because my health wouldn’t let me work anymore. I’m in … my third appeal for Social Security Disability and SSI. They’re telling me because I have so much education that I can still continue to work,” Hart said. But, Hart said, she can’t. “It doesn’t matter how much education you’ve got; if your body’s shot, your body’s shot. My hips are gone – I’m down to boneon-bone with no cartilage, I have arthritis in my lower back, I have a pinched sciatic nerve, all of this from years and years of work, and she’s done the same work,” Hart said, gesturing to her friend, Patty Giovagnoli. “We’re both CNAs (certified nursing assistants), and that takes a toll on your body, and she has a lot more health issues than I do.” Giovagnoli, 49, said she, too, was preparing to move into an efficiency apartment, but she won’t be able to pay rent without cash assistance until and unless her disability appeal is successful. “Without this cash assistance, I’m going to be stuck in a shelter for months. And half the women in here are going to be stuck. There’s going to be a line outside the door waiting to come in here,” Giovagnoli said. Hart said she spoke with employees at the offices of state Rep. Phyllis Mundy and state Sen. John Yudichak, “and they didn’t have any answers because they are still fighting (the cut to general assistance). They are definitely against it. But the Republicans own everything in the House and

Youth the next focus for Building Bridges initiative By SUSAN DENNEY Times Leader Correspondent

WILKES-BARRE – The Building Bridges initiative that began after the shooting death of Tyler Winstead had its last meeting Thursday night. But according to the leaders of the initiative, the work is just beginning. City Administrator Marie McCormick opened the work meeting with praise for the organizers of the initiative, the Rev. Michael Brewster and the Rev. Shawn Walker. “They deserve so much credit. They stepped up. There are going to be good things coming out of Building Bridges,” she said. In his remarks, Walker reminded the group of the event that prompted the community into action. “None of this would have happened if that young man had not been killed. I promised (the family) that his death won’t be in vain,” he said. Winstead, 14, was found shot in front of

117 Hill St. on April 5. He died from a gunshot wound to the chest at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center. Walker said that this movement was changing the city. “I want to live well,” he said. “But I want to live well right here in the city of WilkesBarre.” Brewster announced the next step in the initiative -- a big youth meeting at 7 p.m. July 26, at the Catholic Youth Center. The organizers of the meeting are planning many incentives to attract a large turnout of young people. The youths who attend the next meeting will participate in group sessions seeking solutions to their own problems. “We’re going to come out with some solutions,” Brewster said. He said that the most successful group will win a $100 gift card for each participant. He also announced that the first 25 young people who register and stay for the entire meeting will receive a gift basket worth at least $50. He said every par-

ticipant will walk out with a gift. After a brief presentation by Wilkes-Barre police officer Phil Myers on safety and crime in the city, the attendees broke into focus groups. Their assignment was to find the top three reasons why there is violence among the youth of Wilkes-Barre. When the focus groups reassembled three top causes of youth violence emerged. The groups decided that family dynamics, lack of role models among school, police and city leaders, and a lack of respect for authority are major contributors to youth violence. The next step for those who came together after the tragedy of Tyler Winstead’s death is to seek answers from the youths themselves. Walker was optimistic about the meeting. He said it will allow the city’s young people to get to know each other and then get to work. “We want to hear from them,” he said.

CLARK VAN ORDEN/THE TIMES LEADER

A woman died in this house fire early Thursday morning on North Main Street in Pittston.

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house to find Walko on the kitchen floor, Rooney said. A state police deputy fire marshal is investigating the blaze that is not considered suspiciousm he said. No firefighters were injured in the fire. “I was up late laying on the couch watching TV and I smelled smoke through the window,”

Price said. “I couldn’t think of who could possibly be having a backyard fire at that time of night. I went outside and the smell got stronger.” Price said she called 911 on her cellphone and forced open a locked storm door. The interior door was open, she said. “The door was hot to the touch,” Price said. “After I opened it, the smoke just hit me in the face. When police showed up, I started yelling ‘There are people inside.’ ” Walko’s husband, Richard, was not home at the time of the fire.

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City gets administrator

Mayor Joe Yannuzzi has used his executive power to appoint an acting city administrator. “With the recent developments regarding the vacancy of a city administrator, I do not want the city to sustain anymore hardships,” Yannuzzi said in a press release. “I have decided to utilize the powers vested in my authority as mayor to appoint Steve Hahn as acting administrator for the city via execYannuzzi utive order.” A resolution to appoint Hahn administrator failed by a 3-2 council vote on Oct. 17. Yannuzzi’s appointment of Hahn, who has been director of Hahn Hazleton Public Transit since March, created another vacancy within Yannuzzi’s administration, so Yannuzzi, via executive order, appointed Ralph Sharp, who has been manager of the Hazleton Parking Authority since 2001, to fill that post. Both executive orders were signed with an effective date of Oct. 29. Hahn was hired as Butler Township manager in 2006 when Maryanne Petrilla left the post to take office as Luzerne County controller; she was elected county commissioner in 2007. Hahn lost the manager job in January when Petrilla, whose commissioner post was eliminated when the county home rule charter went into effect, was hired to replace him. KINGSTON

Trunk or Treat event is set

Today, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church is hosting its first Trunk or Treat! Celebration from 4-5:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the community in the church parking lot at 813 Wyoming Ave. Decorated vehicles arriving at 3:30 p.m. will be parked in the spaces and costumed children are invited to pass from car to car trick-or-treating. The cars are friends and members of Holy Trinity with a special visit from the Kingston Fire Department. For more information, call 287-9067. WYOMING

Halloween parade today

The Wyoming Recreation Board Children’s Halloween Parade in Butler Street Park is to be held at 4 p.m. today. KINGSTON

Sem to move campus house

Wyoming Seminary is preparing to move a house from its campus to a nearby vacant lot. The home on North Sprague Avenue will be relocated to a property at the corner of North Maple Avenue and West Hoyt Street, just behind its current location, to make room for a new arts center on the school’s campus, school spokeswoman Gail Smallwood said Friday. The school will also demolish two adjacent homes and an apartment complex to make way for the project. All three homes and the apartment building are owned by Wyoming Seminary and were used to house faculty, Smallwood said. The school will move the home rather than demolish it because it has historic value. Smallwood said it was once owned by the Roat family, a prominent local family that once operated several hardware stores on the West Side. The private high school has not released details about the new arts building, Smallwood said. Excavation work has already begun at the corner of Hoyt Street and Maple Avenue. LUZERNE COUNTY

Bridge work is scheduled

There will be a right lane restriction on Interstate 81 Northbound from Exit 170 (Wilkes-Barre) to Exit 175 (Dupont/Pittston) on Saturday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. for bridge deck repair. Motorists are advised to consider alternate routes, such as the turnpike. SCRANTON

DEP postpones seminar

The state Department of Environmental Protection has postponed a Natural Gas Vehicle Seminar originally scheduled for Tuesday at the Scranton Hilton due to anticipated impacts from Hurricane Sandy. The department said it is working with the event co-sponsor, Northeast PA Alliance, to reschedule the seminar and anticipates releasing new date and location information next week.

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LOCAL

Property Words don’t come easy taxes are issue in 119th race SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ABUSE

State Rep. Mullery cites opponent’s delinquency in paying in campaign. Arnold blames county reassessment.

By BILL O’BOYLE boboyle@timesleader.com

WILKES-BARRE – State Rep. Gerald Mullery, citing his opponent’s delinquency on property taxes, Friday said if Rick Arnold can’t handle his personal finances, how can voters elect him to represent them in Harrisburg. ELECTION Arnold, the Republican candidate in the race for the 119th Legislative District seat, said he is having difficulty paying his property taxes that, as he said, “skyrocketed” after the Luzerne County tax reassessment. According to re- Arnold cords at the Northeast Revenue Service, LLC, the company retained by the Luzerne County Tax Bureau, Arnold and his wife owe back taxes on three properties – two in Rice Mullery Township and one in Kingston. The total amount due is $16,579. Arnold said Friday he has appealed the assessments and has worked out a payback agreement with the county. “I have no liens against my properties, Arnold said. “I think it’s shameful that (Mullery) has made this a campaign issue. There is no place in politics for stuff like this.” Arnold, a building contractor, said he has experienced a “severe downturn” in his business due to the current economic

2012

AIMEE DILGER PHOTOS/THE TIMES LEADER

Sean Guziewicz in his Duryea bedroom. Sean withheld from his adoptive parents that he had been sexually abused at age 7 by the grandson of prior foster parents.

Victims face hurdles to recovery Melissa and Sean Guziewicz discuss the upcoming weekend event at Penn State, where Sean will be on a panel discussing sexual abuse and male victims.

By TERRIE MORGAN-BESECKER tmorgan@timesleader.com

DURYEA – Melissa Guziewicz sensed something was terribly wrong the day her 13-year-old adopted son, Sean, approached her in the family’s home. “He was really upset and said, ‘I wish I could tell you something,’ ” Guziewicz said. She wasn’t prepared for what came next. Sean reached down and pulled up his sleeve, To see additional revealing multiple photos, visit marks from wounds he www.times hadinflictedonhisarms. leader.com. He had been secretly cutting himself for years. But she soon discovered it was not the only secret he had been keeping. While undergoing counseling for his self-mutilation, Sean told a counselor he had been sexually abused at age 7 by the teenage grandson of the foster parents with whom he had resided prior to joining the Guziewicz home on Main Street. Like many child sexual assault victims, he remained silent for years, unable to verbalize the inner torment that led to him to his self-destructive behavior that also included an eating disorder. It’s been two years since he first revealed his abuse. Sean, now 15, has made great progress in dealing with his psychological issues, his mother said. Now he wants to encourage others to “Just Tell.”

On Monday, the high school freshman will travel to State College to take part in the two-day Child Sexual Abuse Conference at Penn State University. He’ll be appearing as a member of Just Tell, a nonprofit organization that provides support services to encourage victims of child sexual abuse to come forward and seek treatment.

The Penn State conference features presentations by experts who will provide insight into research, treatment options and prevention of child sexual abuse. Sean hopes to emphasize the importance of increasing awareness and support for male sexual assault victims. “Ithinkamajorpartofmegettingbetter is trying to help other people with their problems,” he said. Revealing child sexual abuse is difficult for both genders, but males are more reluctant to come forward than females, experts in child sexual assault say. “Young men think they will be judged if they reveal,” said Vivian Farmery, founder of Just Tell. “They fear society will cast them as being homosexual if

10 survivors to speak out Seanisamongapanelof10malechild sexual abuse survivors who will discuss the unique challenges men face in overcoming the trauma of sexual abuse. Treatment, awareness and support for male sexual assault victims has come to the forefront in recent months due to extensive publicity surrounding the trial of Jerry Sandusky, a former Penn State assistant football coach conSee SURVIVOR, Page 7A victed of molesting numerous boys.

Clients turn into volunteers

Women helped by Ruth’s Place return the favor to mark shelter’s 10th anniversary.

Untangling confusing EIT notice Many wonder if earned income tax letter means they will pay more. (Answer is, for the most part, no.) By ANDREW M. SEDER aseder@timesleader.com

United Methodist Church on River Street. It became a full-time shelter in 2007, only to see the church close in 2008. The shelter was transformed into Ruth’s Place House of Hope, Inc., and

There are many complaints that tax laws are difficult to understand. A letter regarding earned income tax changes that was sent recently by Berkheimer, the newly contracted earned income tax administrator for Luzerne County, has only added to the confusion. The letter headlined “Attention individual earned income taxpayers: Notice of mandatory tax changes,” explained Act 32 of 2009 and the changes it brought this year, though it’s worded as if it was meant to have been sent out last year. That’s because it was. Dave Gordon, legal counsel for the Bangor-based company, said the letter went to residents and employers in counties that were contracted with Berkheimer last year. But after Berkheimer took over this summer from the now-defunct Centax/Don Wilkinson Agency as the tax collector for Luzerne and other counties, Berkheimer hurried to introduce itself to county residents. The result was an old letter recycled a

See VOLUNTEERS, Page 8A

See EIT, Page 7A

By MARK GUYDISH mguydish@timesleader.com

WILKES-BARRE – In the shadow of a rusting water tower in a neighborhood where modest clapboard homes butt up against hulking former factories, Jahaira Zavala recounted how the cot-filled Ruth’s Place transformed her life when she found herself homeless. “They helped me find a job, they helped me get an apartment,” the 28-yearold New Jersey native said. “I came back to volunteer. I do want to go back to school, get a degree in psychology, and help the girls here.’’ Where would she be without the shelter? “That’s a question I never want to ask myself, and I don’t want anyone else here to ask themselves.” Zavala was one of several clients turned volunteers to join in a press conference Friday marking the shelter’s10th anniversary. Center Director Kristen Topolski and board Chairman Bill Bolan rattled off thanks to all the shelter’s supporters and

See ARNOLD, Page 8A

FRED ADAMS/FOR THE TIMES LEADER

Ruth’s Place Shelter Director Kristen Topolski, center, gets hugged by Nancy Kempa and Jahaira Zavala, shelter residents, after she spoke to reporters at a press conference at Ruth’s Place.

partners, discussed celebration plans for the coming year and offered a brief history of what Bolan billed as the only 24hour emergency shelter exclusively for women in Luzerne County. Founded in 2003 as a night-only winter shelter, Ruth’s place settled into the First

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moved into a former refrigeration business on N. Pennsylvania Ave., a place of rebirth in a neighborhood of repurposed manufacturing plants. The shelter keeps 21 beds permanently, with four more cots available for emergency sheltering, Bolan said. About $90,000 was spent to expand the showers, install a kitchen and add other features that help make the shelter a full-service facility that has reduced average stay from more than a month a few years ago to 16.1 days. Along with Zavala, Nancy Kempa and Carletta Walker attested to the shelter’s value. “I’d be out on the street,” Kempa, 38, said in recounting how

Ruth’s Place helped her twice, in 2008 when she lost her Plymouth home and again recently when her new home was condemned. “They made me feel like I wasn’t alone,” Walker, 49, said of the time she lost her house and her job in one day – the job because she had to take time off to look for housing for her family of five. Topolski said that while the shelter does get some women with drug and alcohol issues, most clients “are not what you expect,” losing their homes because of reasons out of their hands: A landlord fails to pay a mortgage and the building is repossessed, an employer closes a business or the only job available is a late shift with no transportation to and from work. Bolan said 96 percent of clients find a safe place to live after leaving, and he credited strong support from other social service agencies, churches, businesses

and the community. Because of the anniversary, the shelter’s big annual fundraiser – “A mile in her shoes” homeless awareness walk – will be expanded this year to include crafts, food, face painting and other activities after the walk, which begins Nov. 4 at1p.m. on Public Square and traces the path many women must take to obtain services that help them return to self-sufficiency, Topolski said. The shelter also plans an April dinner for supporters, volunteers and graduates, and other events for volunteers and graduates during the year. While the shelter has been able to survive and grow for a decade, Topolski said help and donations are always welcome. Anyone interested in helping can visit the website at ruthsplace.com, or call 8226817. “We never turn down a set of helping hands, Topolski said.

Jeffrey P. D’Andrea, D.O., F.A.C.C. Is pleased to announce the opening of his new Cardiology Practice:

CARDIOVASCULAR CARE CENTER CURRENT and NEW PATIENTS may call to schedule an appointment with Dr. D’Andrea at his new location:

WATERFRONT PROFESSIONAL PARK 672 NORTH RIVER STREET, SUITE 101 PLAINS, PENNSYLVANIA 18705

PHONE: 570-371-3536

ARNOLD Continued from Page 3A

conditions. He said his wife was furloughed from her job working with special needs children. “Many of (Mullery’s) constituents are having the same problems,” he said. “I’m a constituent too. Why isn’t he concerned about me? Instead he attacks me.” Mullery said Arnold has never contacted his office for help, noting that he has answered many requests for assistance from constituents in similar circumstances to Arnold, referring them to financial planning agencies that could help individuals reassess their spending habits or assist in mortgage refinancing. Mullery, D-Newport Township, raised the issue during an interview with The Times Leader

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A R N O L D ’ S TA X B I L L S ❏ Richard T. and Rita J. Arnold Property at 2260 Church Road, Rice Township Delinquent taxes: $7,688 ❏ Richard and Rita Jane Arnold Property at 503 Market St., Kingston Delinquent taxes: $6,180 ❏ Richard and Rita Arnold Property at 2518 Church Road, Rice Township Delinquent taxes: $2,711

Editorial Board earlier this week. He took exception to Arnold’s radio and television advertisements touting his work ethic and business successes. “Yet, Rick Arnold has repeatedly and consistently found himself in financial difficulty,” Mullery said. “The only conclusion I can draw from these facts is that Rick Arnold has failed to live within his means. Given the current state of our commonwealth’s finances

and the devastating budget cuts we have been forced to make, I believe the constituents of the 119th Legislative District need a proven fiscally responsible representative in Harrisburg.” Mullery provided copies of the county records detailing Arnold’s status regarding property taxes. “He has failed to meet his financial obligations to Luzerne County, Rice Township and Kingston and the Crestwood and Wyoming Valley West School Districts,” Mullery said. Arnold penned a letter to the editor that appeared in Friday’s Times Leader where he talked about property taxes and the difficulties people have to pay them. He said he would fight to eliminate property taxes, if elected. “I’m not hiding this from anyone,” Arnold said. “I have a payment plan with the county. There are no liens on any of my properties.”

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2012 PAGE 3A

LOCAL

County points finger over clock trouble Officials seek answers from Kronos Inc.

By JENNIFER LEARN-ANDES jandes@timesleader.com SUBMITTED PHOTO

Pittston police said a 2002 to 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo like this one was used in recent attempted child abductions. PITTSTON

Police seeking 2 suspects

Police believe the vehicle involved in two attempted child luring incidents is a purple or maroon 2002 to 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Police said two male juveniles in two separate incidents reported that two white men in their 20s attempted to lure them into the vehicle Tuesday afternoon. The first incident occurred in the area of Butler and Church streets and the second occurred in the area of Butler Street near Messra’s Market, police said. The driver was described as having short brown hair, and the passenger has long, dark brown/black hair that curled around his ears. Anyone with information about the incidents is asked to call Pittston police at 654-2425.

A problem with Luzerne County’s time clocks might stem largely from a finger scan acceptance threshold that was set too low, officials say. In other words, the system might have been purposefully programmed to allow employees to clock in and out regardless of whether their finger scans matched. County Controller Walter Griffith said he was informed this was done so employees would not be frustrated if they encountered problems getting the

clocks to accept their finger scans during the system’s implementation. County Manager Robert Lawton said he received a similar posLawton sible explanation and is trying to determine whether the county or time clock supplier – Chelmsford, Mass.-based Kronos Inc. – was responsible for recommending, establishing and monitoring this sensitivity threshold.

“I have to learn to deal with my problems with a certain level of sobriety. But it’s not easy.” — Melvin Minckler

Death probe continues

HARRISBURG

Mundy heads committee

State Rep. Phyllis Mundy, D-Kingston, has been named chairwoman of the House Finance Committee for the 2013-14 legislative session, which begins in January. She is the only area state representative named to chair a Mundy House committee for the session. House committees study each bill and determine which proposals will go to the full House. They also conduct public hearings on key issues.

Identifying and correcting the problem is a “high priority,” Lawton said. “It may be a matter of us turning up the sensitivity of the machines, but then we may get into false rejections,” Lawton said. A false rejection occurs when a valid finger scan is rejected, possibly due to chapped skin or original prints that did not meet recognition standards. Lawton said Kronos has indicated the fingerprints of about 280 employees did not meet the company’s 40-percent recognition standard. New prints might be obtained for these employees – or all, if

“I am not blaming Kronos, but at this point the company is not off the hook yet,” Lawton said. County officials recently learned the biometric time clock system allows employees to use their own finger scans to clock absent colleagues in and out as long as they have their coworkers’ numerical identification codes. The prior county administration purchased the system to prevent this type of “buddy punching.” The system cost $700,000 to date, including added datahosting services from another company. See TIME CLOCKS, Page 7A

HAZLETON

City police said they are continuing the investigation into the death of Maria Brea, 32, who was found dead inside her East Diamond Avenue apartment on Tuesday, four days after she was reported missing. Brea An autopsy Tuesday at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital showed Brea died from asphyxiation due to strangulation. Her death was ruled a homicide by the Garcia Luzerne County Coroner’s Office. Police said Wednesday they continue to search for Brea’s former boyfriend, Oscar Lozano Garcia, who may be driving a red and black Chevrolet pickup with a Pennsylvania license plate YYF-5939. Garcia is described as Hispanic, about 5-feet, 9-inches tall and 165 pounds with black hair. Police said Brea lived with Garcia at the apartment and recently had ended her relationship with him. Anyone with information about the investigation is asked to call Luzerne County 911.

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Unlawful music use hits chord in Kingston

Borough pays for license to play songs to on-hold callers, pool users. By TERRIE MORGAN-BESECKER tmorgan@timesleader.com

CLARK VAN ORDEN/THE TIMES LEADER

Melvin Minckler, 48, talks about how he wants to get his life back in order and get off the streets.

Almost like home Around holidays, homeless stay at camp

By BILL O’BOYLE

boboyle@timesleader.com

RANKLIN TWP. – Melvin Minckler sipped coffee and rolled a cigarette as he leafed through “The Druids,” by Peter Berresford Ellis. It was just after 10 a.m. Wednesday and Minckler, 48, was thinking about how he would spend the rest of his day.

This was not a typical day for Minckler and the other 20 or so participants in the Mother Teresa’s Haven program for homeless men who are spending two weeks at Camp Orchard Hill. The traveling homeless program usually spends a week at a time in local churches, where the participants’ routine starts with a 5:30 a.m. wakeup and a ride to Wilkes-Barre to keep appointments and look for jobs. They are then returned to the temporary shelter around 6 p.m. to get a meal

HOMELESS SERVICE The annual Homeless Person’s Memorial Service will be held at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church on Friday at 4:30 p.m. with a small meal afterward. The service is dedicated to the legacy of the late Ann Marie McCawley, former director of the St. Vincent de Paul Kitchen. Stefanie Wolownik, former director of REACH, said six homeless people died in the past year. The Times Leader on Sunday plans to present an in-depth look at the Wyoming Valley’s homeless problem.

and a bed for the night. Reprieve from routine At the camp, the homeless can sleep in – something Minckler said they don’t often get to do. They still keep their appointments, but the rules are somewhat relaxed at the camp. For two weeks around the holidays, these homeless stay at the camp, part of a non-denominational nonprofit organization that See HOMELESS, Page 9A

To Kingston Municipal Administrator Paul Keating, the background music played for callers on hold at the municipal building was a courtesy that kept them entertained as they waited for service. But officials with Broadcast Music Inc., one of the nation’s largest music publishing companies, saw it as something much different: copyright infrinKeating gement. In early October, Keating said he got a message from a BMI representative, warning him the municipality was violating BMI’s copyrights and could face a lawsuit if it did not obtain a license to broadcast the music. Keating said he was stunned by the news. “We have an old stereo unit in a closet. When you call, if you’re on hold we play (radio station) Magic 93,” said Keating. “I had no idea you need a license to do that.” You do, and so does any other establishment – bar, restaurant, retail store, fitness center, government office – that broadcasts music to the public, according to BMI. BMI, based in New York, collects and distributes royalties to artists whose music is played on radio, television and any public venue. BMI files lawsuits In recent years, BMI has become more aggressive in enforcing its copyrights in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Since 2010, it has filed 11 federal lawsuits against bars/restaurants, including establishments in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties, a review of court records shows. Most recently, BMI filed a federal suit against Brews Brothers Inc. in Jenkins See MUSIC, Page 7A

S H A R E Y U L E TA L E S Everybody has a favorite Christmas story, and The Times Leader wants to hear yours. We will gather the stories and print them before the big day for our readers to enjoy and reminisce. So tell us about Uncle Joe and his blinking, Christmas necktie. Give us details about the time the family pet knocked over the tree. Take us to those Christmas dinners and your favorite dishes. Show us the photograph of you in your cowboy outfit or with your favorite dolly. Talk about getting to bed early and having trouble falling asleep, then waking up at 3 a.m. to a roomful of gifts brought by Santa. And the cookies and milk were gone! Tell us your stories – humorous, nostalgic, sad or just plain old memorable. Call or write to reporter Bill O’Boyle: 829-7218 or boboyle@timesleader.com.

No copies, but photos of Plymouth budget OK By MARK GUYDISH mguydish@timesleader.com

PLYMOUTH – Borough Coordinator Joe Mazur stuck to his no-copies-allowed position Wednesday when The Times Leader asked to see the proposed 2013 budget, but he readily allowed photographs of the proposal. He also had no objection when told the photographs would be posted on the newspaper’s website, www.timesleader.com. Mazur also provided a copy of the 2012 budget and discussed some of the changes, though all are minor.

The refusal to provide copies of a proposed budget was criticized Tuesday by first-year Councilman Mazur Clif Madrack. And while the state borough code requires only that the proposal be publicly available for inspection, a media attorney contends that declining to provide copies violates the state’s Open Records Law. Mazur argues anyone can see the budget during regular office hours but releasing copies can

cause problems because the numbers might change before council votes on the budget on Dec. 31, and people might start criticizing a document that is not final, making it harder to get the budgeting done. A comparison of the 2012 and proposed 2013 budgets shows spending is projected to increase by $104,763, almost all of which is payroll increases. Mazur said the bulk of that goes to police coverage. Part-time police payroll increases from $20,000 to $131,560. The proposed budget also shows a $6,000 increase in income, far less than the increase

in spending. That leaves a shortfall of almost $99,000, but Mazur said that will be covered by money owed to the borough in 2012 that won’t be received until next year. The proposed budget reduces spending in more than two dozen line items. The biggest decrease – a drop of $9,150 – is for insurance coverage in the streets department, where Mazur said a longtime employee retired, sharply reducing costs. Full and part-time salary totals in the fire department drop by a total of $13,600, while police full-time salaries drop by $4,952.

PLYMOUTH BUDGET Plymouth’s proposed 2013 budget shows a shortfall that Borough Coordinator Joe Mazur said will be covered by money owed in 2012 that will be recieved in 2013. Expenditure category 2012 Salaries/wages $477,400 Payroll taxes and beneﬁts $391,850 Ofﬁce operations $20,500 Professional services $35,000 Buildings operations $40,350 Tax collector $17,100 Miscellaneous $7,200 Police $36,600 Fire $29,800 Other $116,100

Proposed 2013 $572,328 $407,235 $18,500 $33,500 $37,000 $17,100 $7,200 $43,000 $29,800 $111,000

Total spending $1,171,900 $1,276,663 Total Income $1,171,900 $1,177,900 Excess (Deﬁciency) ($98,763) Notes: Unpaid real estate tax from 2011 $91,000 Uncollected income tax from 2011 $36,000 Mark Guydish/The Times Leader

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LOCAL MEETINGS Exeter Borough’s budget includes tax hike for 2013 EXETER – After weeks of interdepartmental wrangling and community discussions, Exeter residents now know exactly what kind of property tax increase they can expect. Borough Council by a vote of 4-3 passed a balanced $1.46 million budget at a special budget meeting Tuesday night with a property tax increase from 1.07 mills to 1.45 mills. With debt service fees factored into the property tax rate, the total amount property owners will pay will be 1.8 mills. A mill is a $1 tax for every $1,000 in assessed property value. Previous reports on Exeter’s finances incorrectly listed the current property tax rate as 1.03 mills. Council President Denise Adams was joined by council members Joseph Pizano, John Morgan and Betty Ann DeRoberto in accepting the budget. Council members Larry Dellegrotto, Joseph Esposito and Thomas Shannon voted against. After the meeting, Dellegrotto and Esposito said they believed further cuts could have been made to lessen the tax increase. Esposito declined to get specific, but said every department could have trimmed more from its respective budget. Dellegrotto said he thought the budget was unrealistic. He cited vendor fees that were budgeted as $2,000 in revenue for 2012. In actuality, the borough did not collect any funding from vendor fees, yet the category was again budgeted for $2,000 for 2013. He also felt that the projected revenues from sewer hookups were roughly $5,000 too high. Pizano cited his desire to

refrain from cutting essential services such as police and fire coverage. The council also passed by a 5-1 vote a measure to borrow $185,403 from the refuse fund to pay that amount of debt to the sewer fund. The $185,403 will be repaid to the refuse fund over the course of 10 years at no interest. DeRoberto was absent for the vote, while Dellegrotto cast the lone vote against. B. Garrett Rogan

building. In other matters, council approved the revised version of the 2013 budget, which increases the property tax by one-tenth of 1 mill, from .604 mills to .704 mills in 2013 to support the approximately $1.1 million spending plan, which includes a $630 deficit. Susan Bettinger

Wyoming Area presents preliminary budget EXETER – The Wyoming Area School Board on Tuesday Harveys Lake Borough’s presented a preliminary budget police station will stay put for the 2013-2014 school year. HARVEYS LAKE – After Although the final budget several months of debating won’t be adopted until June, a whether the borough police resolution presenting the prodepartment should be relocated, posed spending plan needs to be council voted Tuesday to keep approved by February if the the station at its present Route district is to retain the option of 415 location. increasing taxes. A special meeting was held “By no means would this lock Monday evening by the Harveys us into a tax increase,” said Tom Lake Protective Association in Melone, district business manorder to hear both sides of the ager, “but it would allow that issue. Council President Larry option to remain open.” Radel gave the position to move Melone said the budget is still the department to a former in its preliminary stages. recreation center on Little The proposed budget reflects League Road. an “expense over revenue” Councilwoman Michell’e amount of $558,000. Boice opposed, saying the poSuperintendent Ray Bernardi lice department should remain said the district was reviewing at the borough’s main entrance. security measures and would be In a straw poll of the residents working with other municipalwho attended the special meetities in order to maximize stuing, the unanimous decision was dent safety. to keep the department at its In another matter, John Bolin, present site. newly elected president of the Boice said the department board, appointed chairpersons needs to be “highly visible and to board committees. easily accessible.” Mary Louise Degnan, named Also, the borough has rehead of the bidding committee, ceived a $78,000 LSA grant voiced concerns over the approfrom the gaming commission. priateness of his selection. The grant was to be used for “This is not my field of exrenovations if the department pertise,” said Degnan, “I think I were to be moved to the new would be more effective on the location. Council will now have policy committee.” to resubmit the paperwork to Bolin responded by saying the state Department of Comthat the chairpersons reflected munity and Economic Devel“his opinion” on who best fit the opment to use the grant for roles. renovations to the existing Geri Gibbons

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2012 PAGE 9A

HOMELESS Continued from Page 3A

plays host to about 10,000 kids for summer camps and church group retreats each year. Catholic Social Services operates Mother Teresa’s Haven – formerly VISION – moving 22 to 25 homeless men through the system. They sleep in local churches – a week at a time – and they get assistance in finding work, services and essentials such as food, clothing and a shower. Monsignor Joseph Kelly, executive director of CSS, said these homeless men still have hopes of finding a job and housing. Kelly said the numbers for the program have been stable for the last year or so. He said many participants navigate the system and find jobs and housing. Kelly is hopeful a permanent men’s shelter will open in 2013. “Finding a permanent location is a priority,” Kelly said. “Yes, I believe it will happen.” Kelly said he has been meeting with the Downtown WilkesBarre Business Association, the United Way, the Commission on Economic Opportunity, WilkesBarre city and Luzerne County to resolve the problem. He said the talks have been going well. “Everybody is very much on the same page,” Kelly said. “They all realize that homeless-

CLARK VAN ORDEN/THE TIMES LEADER

Melvin Minckler, 48, smokes a cigarette outside his cabin at Camp Orchard Hill in Franklin Township. The camp is hosting the Mother Teresa’s Haven program for homeless men for two weeks.

determined appointments. He has a daughter living locally. He talks to her often, but he said he would never impose on her. “I have to learn to deal with my problems with a certain level of sobriety,” Minckler said. “But it’s not easy.” William Kerr, 34, has been on the streets since he broke up with his girlfriend in late November. He’s been looking for work ever since. “I’ll take anything,” he said. The problem as I see it, is a lot of guys enter this program and try to make it a home and not a temporary shelter.” Kerr said he has been homeHabits of the homeless less before, but now has a reMinckler said homeless peo- solve. “This will be the last time,” he ple hang out in coffee shops and libraries when they aren’t at pre- said.

ness is an issue not just for Wilkes-Barre or Luzerne County, but for the entire country.” Kelly said CSS has 25 years of experience dealing with the homeless issue. Kelly said funding for the homeless program has been cut in half over the last two years. “It’s a huge problem,” he said. Local churches have opened their doors to the Mother Teresa program. He said there had not been much pressure to create a permanent site because sufficient funding was available in the past. “Now that has changed,” Kelly said.

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2012

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Police seek car in fatal hit and run

AREA’S HOMELESS ‘CAMP’ IN KIRBY PARK

Five-year-old Kevin Miller of Dallas was struck by vehicle in Wilkes-Barre Friday night. By MATT HUGHES mhughes@timesleader.com

WILKES-BARRE – Homeless settlement camps have been erected throughout the Kirby Park Natural Area. Some camps are easily seen from the Market Street Bridge and the levee in Kirby Park, while others are hidden behind mammoth trees and shrubs. Piles of tents, soggy clothes and shoes, backpacks, empty plastic food containers, coolers and canned goods litter the 10 camps that were found scattered in the muddy flood plain between the

WILKES-BARRE – City and state police are searching for the driver of a vehicle that struck and killed a 5-year-old boy in the city Friday night. According to city police, the boy, identified by Luzerne County Assistant Chief Deputy Coroner Tom Moran as 5-year-old Kevin Miller of Dallas, was struck by a vehicle at the corner of West North Street and North Franklin Street at about 10:55 p.m. Friday. The driver fled the scene prior to police arrival. Police said the boy was treated on scene for traumatic injuries and rushed to Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Plains Township, where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy Satur- Kevin Miller day morning at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital determined Miller died of multiple traumatic “There are injuries, with Moran ruling his no words… death a homicide. Saturday afternoon police re- It’s very leased an image of the vehicle sad. This is they believe struck the boy. It was captured by a surveillance cam- a sad day.” era on Jackson Street at 10:55 Stefanie p.m., 1 minute before the acciSalavantis dent was reported. The image Luzerne County shows a red sedan, which police District Attorney believe may be a Pontiac GrandAm with a sun or moon roof and an undetermined amount of front end and side damage. Police said the vehicle was videotaped by both city cameras and surveillance cameras on privately owned buildings, and witness descriptions match the vehicle shown in the released image. Police and the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office encourage anyone with information about the vehicle or the accident to contact investigators. “Especially now, around the holidays, this is a terrible tragedy, and if anybody has any information we urge them to contact the Wilkes-Barre City Police Department or 911,” Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis said. “We’re dealing with a 5-year-old child that is dead now, so any information is important for us.” Miller is the son of Dr. Stephen F. Miller and attorney Caroline Miller of Dallas. He is survived by his parents, twin brother Christopher and older

See CAMPS, Page 11A

See HIT AND RUN, Page 12A

AIMEE DILGER/THE TIMES LEADER

Rebecca, 18, Justin Dunn and Kurt Swan search a tent encampment near the Susquehanna River for salvageable belongings and re-useable tent-building materials. Evidence suggests homeless people often sleep in this wooded area of Kirby Park, Wilkes-Barre.

Down, out and desperate By BILL O’BOYLE boboyle@timesleader.com

ILKES-BARRE – Kurt Swan, a 45year-old homeless man, said he and as many as 100 people have lived in recent months along the Susquehanna River in West Side riverfront parks. Remnants of tents litter the ground, along with weather-beaten Bibles, discarded liquor bottles and clothing ruined by rain. “I went through a drinking spell,” said Swan. “But not so much now.” The unprecedented number of tents, homeless advocates said, is evidence that Luzerne County’s homeless problem has worsened in recent months. There are more homeless people in the area today than ever before, and the tent

dwellers are “chronically homeless,” said Monsignor Joseph Kelly, executive director of Catholic Social Services. Many of them frequent St. Vincent de Paul Kitchen for free meals and seek warmth when possible in public libraries and coffee shops. Kelly and others involved with helping the homeless, including those on the streets and in shelters, estimated the population at between 40 and 100. It’s difficult to accurately account for tent dwellers and those living in abandoned buildings or “couch surfers” – people who go from friend to friend to crash for a night or two. Jim Sobieski, who volunteers at the St. Vincent de Paul Kitchen on Jackson Street, said there are “at See TENTS, Page 10A

INSIDE According to a city ordinance, homeless camps erected in Kirby Park’s Nature Area are illegal, but Police Chief Gerard Dessoye said the ordinance is not strictly enforced, if at all. Page 10A The former director of VISION – now Mother Teresa’s Haven – Vince Kabacinski said despite severe cutbacks in funding, opportunities remain for the homeless. Page 11A

Camps have become homes By EDWARD LEWIS elewis@timesleader.com

Rx for clinic: Donations, volunteers CARE & CONCERN MINISTRIES WISH LIST

By GERI GIBBONS Times Leader Correspondent

Food pantry: • Accepts food donations and hats, gloves and mittens. Adult Clinic: • Volunteers, especially health care professionals. The clinic is in need of doctors, even if they could volunteer only once a month, and specialists: orthopedists, neurologists, cardiologists, dermatologists and dentists. Pediatric Clinic: • Will be updating its waiting area, and is need of financial assistance and any appropriate furniture. Knitting group: • Accepts yarn and new members. Kids Closet: • Clothing is accepted from infant through children’s size 16.

INSIDE

A NEWS Local Nation/World Obituaries Weather

3A 5A 2A, 8A 12A

PITTSTON – Blanca Gonzalez, Wilkes-Barre, waited for her appointment at the Care & Concern Free Clinic in Pittston one recent night to get help for asthma, diabetes and high blood pressure and to warm her heart. The single mother recently arrived at the clinic unable to breathe, but the staff was able to get treatment and medication for her. Now she smiles. The Care & Concern Ministry, based at St. John the Evangelist Church facilities on William Street, offers a food pantry, an adult health clinic, a pediatric clinic, a kids’ closet and a knitting group. All its ministries are filled with

Comfort

Money, toys, gifts pour into Newtown Story, 5A

staff dedicated to bettering the lives of members of the community. The ministries have served more than 6,000 area residents in the five years since it opened. “The staff here treat patients with very much respect,” said Gonzalez, “whether they are obtaining medical information or taking your blood pressure. It always seems that it is a labor of love. “I tell friends and family that I am coming to the clinic on Wednesday night, so don’t even call me,” said Gonzalez smiling, “I’ve been coming here since December 2009.” See CLINIC, Page 2A

B SUNDAY EXTRA Occasions 2B Birthdays 9B Books 12B Travel 14B

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Blanca Gonzalez visits the Care & Concern Free Clinic in Pittston to get help with her medical issues.

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Police: We tolerate park dwellers homeless are staying in the wooded area by the SusquehanWILKES-BARRE – According na River, which was created to regulations, homeless camps after the 1936 flood when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers erected in Kirby Park’s Nature constructed the levee splitting Area are illegal. Kirby Park in two. A city ordinance adopted in The homeless population 1980 closes city parks from typically poses a societal issue sunset to sunrise. Violation of rather than a law enforcement the ordinance is punishable by fines of $25 to $300 and up to 90 problem, Dessoye said. “It’s not our problem until a crime ocdays in jail. curs,” said Dessoye. “It’s a social It is an ordinance city Police Chief Gerard Dessoye said is not issue. If you go back to the Depression era, you would see strictly enforced, if at all. most people were living in Dessoye said he is aware the By EDWARD LEWIS elewis@timesleader.com

shacks.” Kingston Police Chief Keith Keiper said homelessness becomes an issue for his department only when a complaint is filed for an incident. Most of the time, Keiper said, the complaints involve homeless people loitering outside a business or knocking on a home’s door, asking for money. There have been complaints of people ransacking cars in the neighborhood along the river, but Keiper said it is difficult to trace the vandalism and thefts

to the homeless population. Keiper said he is unaware of any homeless camps that have been erected along the river in Kingston. Dessoye said, technically, if police want to chase the homeless from the nature area, they could issue citations under the 1980 ordinance that closes city parks at sunset. “If we move them out, where are we going to move them to?” Dessoye said. “Right now, they are not a problem to anyone. The last record I checked was

police were called to break up a rift between two homeless men. Equally, popular opinion is to have more tolerance for the homeless than to aggressively persecute them.” At least six homeless people, all of whom would not provide their full names, said police destroyed tents that had been set up near the Susquehanna River. Dessoye said he has no knowledge of officers destroying the tents. “More importantly, I don’t see the advantage of police

doing that,” he said. The chief said if police were to expel people from the park, which closes after dark, the more logical tactic would be to cite them. Said Keiper: “To be honest, I don’t think my guys go down there unless we’re called. There is nothing there. As long as they’re law-abiding citizens, there is no reason to bother them.” Times Leader reporter Bill O’Boyle contributed to this story.

PETE G. WILCOX/THE TIMES LEADER

Makeshift campsites like this one on Susquehanna River’s west bank popped up in recent months because of a spike in the area’s homeless population, according to one social service worker. The Wyoming Valley has no permanent shelter for homeless men.

ple in the program has been stable for the last year or so. Many participants navigate the system well, he said, and eventually find jobs and more permanent housing. Rick Rutter, at Keystone Rescue Mission Alliance off Coal Street in Wilkes-Barre, provides a place for homeless men to shower if they walk in off the street. Homeless men also can establish a mailing address there.

TENTS Continued from Page 1A

least” three dozen homeless people living outdoors in tents or carved-out, mountainside caves in or near Wilkes-Barre. The state’s decision to end its cash assistance program on Aug. 1 caused homelessness to spike, Kelly said. The program offered $205 per month to “the poorest of poor,” he said. “They would use that money to rent a room. We immediately saw an uptick in homelessness when the cash assistance program stopped.” Kelly said there are other reasons for more homelessness. Employment is less available, especially one-day jobs that many homeless people would take. And there are fewer vacant part-time jobs, said Kelly, further reducing the ability of homeless people to earn some income. ‘Abandonminiums’ With outdoor temperatures turning colder, Swan said many homeless seek shelter in “abandonminiums” – vacant structures that offer some protection from the elements. If caught inside, violators could be jailed – sometimes a welcome option, he said. Living in the woods, especially in the colder months, has its challenges, Swan said. He starts a fire in the morning to warm up and sometimes has a nip of alcohol to “get the chill out.” He heads to downtown Wilkes-Barre daily, goes to church often and grabs a meal at the kitchen on Jackson

PETE G. WILCOX/THE TIMES LEADER

Camp remnants, including a liquor bottle and a Bible, litter the ground Wednesday at a riverfront site in Wilkes-Barre.

“We immediately saw an uptick in homelessness when the cash assistance program stopped.” Monsignor Joseph Kelly Executive director of Catholic Social Services

Street. When it rains, Swan and two companions head for any shelter they can find. If none can be found, he said, “I’m going to get wet.” Lynn Bell, who also is homeless, is a 53-year-old woman who said she has battled cancer. She and her boyfriend, Dave, who would not provide his last

name, live in a tent in the woods of Wilkes-Barre Township. She said Dave is constantly looking for a job, but “there’s nothing out there.” Catholic Social Services operates Mother Teresa’s Haven, a structured program for the homeless willing to not drink alcohol, where they work to improve themselves in return for

nightly shelter in churches. The program moves weekly from church to church, and Kelly is hopeful a permanent shelter soon will be established in the downtown. Mother Teresa’s Haven, formerly called VISION, moves 22 to 25 homeless men through the system. They get assistance in finding work, services and essentials such as food, clothing and a shower. These homeless men, said Kelly, still have hope of finding a job and housing and resuming a productive role in society. Kelly said the number of peo-

Chronically homeless Those who live by the Susquehanna don’t want to follow the rules, Kelly said. “They’ve decided they would be better off living in a tent by the river rather than in a shelter,” said Kelly. “Most have given up hope. They have no hope of ever finding a job or of ever finding affordable housing.” Many of these chronically homeless people like to drink – a behavior that excludes them from participating in most structured homeless programs geared at finding jobs and housing while providing meals and respite, Kelly said. What can be done for these homeless? “I guess improve the economy,” said Kelly. “The only way to get them into temporary housing is one client at a time.” Stefanie Wolownik, program supervisor at Manna House – a transitional housing program for homeless 18- to 25-year-olds – had worked as director of REACH, a homeless drop-in center in the basement of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church on South Franklin Street. REACH closed a year and a half ago largely due to funding cutbacks. Wolownik still has a connec-

tion with the homeless community. She helped to organize a memorial service on Friday for homeless people who have died while staying in this area. Disorders, abuse issues Wolownik said many homeless people have mental disorders and/or substance abuse issues that make it difficult, if not impossible, for them to negotiate the system of applying for help and services. “They can’t chronicle their lives – something that is necessary when filling out application forms,” said Wolownik. “They can’t remember dates; it’s a difficult process.” Wolownik and Kelly said there are housing assistance programs, rental assistance programs and job search programs to help people be productive again. “Some programs will buy steel-toed shoes or tools needed for certain jobs,” said Wolownik. “But the applicant has to be astute enough to identify where to go and then complete the application process.” A permanent shelter would make the process easier, said Wolownik, because everything would be centralized and within walking distance to the places a homeless/jobless person needs to get in order to improve his or her situation. “And it’s important to know where you’re going to lay your head every night,” she said. She said some homeless individuals get arrested repeatedly for public drunkenness, which leads to jail time. “Then they are warm for the winter,” she said. “It’s survival of the fittest; well they aren’t very fit, but they manage to survive.”

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Homeless numbers are increasing By BILL O’BOYLE boboyle@timesleader.com

WILKES-BARRE – Vince Kabacinski has been working on behalf of homeless people for 29 years. The former director of VISION – now Mother Teresa’s Haven – Kabacinski, 63, said despite severe cutbacks in funding, opportunities remain for the homeless. “But this is as bad as I’ve seen it,” he said. “There are more homeless, but I’m proud that there are more opportunities available. We’re continuing to provide help, but these are very, very difficult times.” Kabacinski and the late Ann Marie McCawley started the Homeless Coalition nearly 30 years ago. He said Catholic So-

cial Services, which runs Mother Teresa’s Haven, the Commission on Economic Opportunity and Help Line are good places for people to start when in need. “The services are there for them,” he said. In his travels, Kabacinski said he finds people who are victims of domestic violence, HIV/AIDS patients, veterans, people dealing with substance abuse, mentally ill, and young people – under 18 – who he calls “unaccompanied youth.” Kabacinski said the people in the structured programs are doing the right thing – the best thing to get their lives back on track. “They’re getting help and they are trying to pull themselves back up to regain their place in

HELP FOR HOMELESS ❏ Catholic Social Services 33 East Northampton Street, Wilkes-Barre; Phone: 822-7118, Fax: 8297781 Website: http://cssdioceseofscranton.org/content/offices ❏ Commission on Economic Opportunity 165 Amber Lane, Wilkes-Barre Phone: 826-0510 Toll Free Number: 1-800-822-0359; Fax Number: 829-1665; Email: ceo@sunlink.net Website: http://www.ceopeoplehelpingpeople.org/ ❏ Help Line 31 West Market Street, Wilkes-Barre Phone: 829-1341 or (888) 829-1341 Fax: 829-5055 Email: helpline@fsawv.org Website: http://www.helpline-nepa.info/

society,” he said. He said the chronically homeless – the people living on the streets – are “acutely aware” of services available, but they won’t

enroll in programs because they won’t play by the rules. “Anyone on the streets is there by choice,” he said. “They might have a drinking problem or a

substance abuse problem. We offer to get them into detox, but they won’t agree.” If they would accept that offer, Kabacinski said when they are released from detox they would enter the program and begin to discuss goals and set up a plan. “Most won’t do it,” he said. “They have bottomed-out, or they’re just not that in control of their lives.” According to Kabacinski, between Oct. 1, 2011 and Sept. 30, 2012, there were: • 261 single women with children in emergency shelters • 114 single women with children in transitional housing facilities • 566 individuals in emergency shelters – such as Mother Teresa’s Haven and Ruth’s Place

• 75 individuals in transitional housing Kabacinski said the total comes to 1,016 and these are all separate cases – no repeats. On Jan. 25, 2012, Kabacinski did a “one night count” that found: • 4 families that totaled 16 individuals in emergency shelters • 18 families/68 individuals in transitional housing • 45 individuals in emergency shelters • 44 in transitional housing that night • 5 unsheltered individuals unsheltered (all that he could find) That’s 178 homeless people being helped on the one night count.

CAMPS Continued from Page 1A

Susquehanna River and the levee. Most are within 400 yards of the bridge, while one camp is camouflaged atop a hill near the Wilkes-Barre Railroad Connecting Bridge. Other camps were found scattered in the dense woods closer to U.S. Route 11 in Edwardsville. In one camp near the bridge along the river shore and with the city skyline in the distance, a man who identified himself as Allen held a shovel. Allen did not want to provide his last name because he is searching for a job. He said he lived in a tent with “Danny,” whom he met at the St. Vincent de Paul Kitchen in Wilkes-Barre, for three weeks in October. Danny left in early November when a friend took him in. Buries his valuables Allen said he was digging for a plastic soda bottle containing a watch and a ring he buried to keep it hidden from other homeless people. “I’ve had that watch since my father died 10 years ago,” Allen said. “I forgot to take it when I left this hell hole.” Allen, 42, said he became homeless shortly after he was laid off from a job in the Crestwood Industrial Park in Mountain Top in June. He was one of seven tenants evicted from an apartment building in Glen Lyon when the building had been foreclosed in July. Allen said he never filed for unemployment compensation when he was laid off, leaving him with no money. He said he never had trouble finding food to eat and filled a bottle with fresh water utilizing restrooms at fast food restaurants and convenience stores. In the same camp Allen

HOSPITALS Continued from Page 3A

“PHC4’s latest hospital performance report documents the progress hospitals have made toward reducing mortality rates and readmissions,” said Andy Carter, president of The Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania. When looking at nine area hospitals primarily serving residents of Luzerne, Lackawanna and Wyoming counties, all had mortality rates that were not significantly different from what was expected based on patient risk and random variation in nine of the 12 categories. Some hospitals, if they didn’t perform more than five of the procedures, were not graded. There were three categories that showed at least one local hospital with mortality rates significantly higher or lower than was expected. They were: • When it came to kidney and urinary tract infection mortality rates, Regional Hospital of Scranton’s data was deemed significantly higher than expected, according to the report. • When it came to infectious pneumonia, Hazleton General

AIMEE DILGER PHOTOS/THE TIMES LEADER

Kurt Swan, who has been homeless for three months, and Sean Mooney, who has been homeless for more than seven years, walk through Public Square, Wilkes-Barre, on their way to the St. Vincent de Paul Kitchen.

called home for three weeks, there was a Bible resting against a cooler, several tents that are torn and two empty liquor bottles mixed with debris. Camp with fire pit Deeper in the woods is the biggest camp with a large fire pit surrounded by logs used for sitting. Several tents were on the ground and folded, likely to keep hidden from view during the day. Tent poles were found in nearby shrubs. There is strong evidence people are staying in the largest camp. There are markings in the mud from shoes and a bicy-

saw a rate significantly lower than expected. • When it came to aspiration pneumonia, both Wilkes-Barre General and Geisinger Wyoming Valley saw rates significantly lower than expected. Those two hospitals said the report is a valuable tool not only for patients but the facilities, too. “At Geisinger, we continually track and monitor statistics about patient safety and quality of care, and we are always seeking new ways to improve the environment we offer patients to ensure that it is as safe as possible,” noted Matthew Van Stone, a health system spokesman. “As always, we will take the information from the PHC4 reports along with that from patient feedback and accreditation surveys and work diligently to enhance the care provided throughout Geisinger Health System.” Wilkes-Barre General issued a statement saying: “We are pleased that our quality improvement efforts and focus on quality patient outcomes have been recognized by the PHC4 report. The physicians and staff at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital continually assess our patient care services and work to build on the quality of the care we provide.”

16 at a Kingston pharmacy. A cle and the fire pit had fresh search of court records of the fire-charred branches. Fallen name on the prescription releaves were missing from the turned several drug and burpit two days after it was first glary related convictions. searched by a reporter last Each camp is nestled in a week. group of large trees and shrubs Tents and coolers were and accessible by the same moved and there were more paths joggers and hikers use. empty canned goods of Several joggers interviewed creamed corn. Spoons and forks are in sand- on top of the levee said they have had no problems with the wich bags, a celery stalk in a shopping bag hung from a tree homeless people. While the camps are littered branch, and a deck of playing cards were kept dry in a closed with debris and garbage, the paths are clear of empty cans cooler. An empty prescription bottle and food containers. The nature area of Kirby Park for Motrin, which was found mixed with other debris at the was home to the Kirby Park Kurt Swan, whose homelessness began earlier this year, discusses largest camp, was filled on Oct. Zoo in the 1920s. his situation as a construction worker who became unemployed.

CANDLES Continued from Page 3A

ens of military charities and families. He credits co-owners Carmen Milazzo and and Charles Umphred with believing a vision could be come a reality. He also credits his wife, Cathy, with her participation in the company and love of family. Scocozzo truly believes in his product. Surrounded by candles of various colors and scents, he smiles broadly. He is especially proud of his Christmas candles, decorated for the season, with a pine scent.

“We can’t directly support residents of that area emotionally, “ said Mia, “but I think selling the candles and visiting the area will show that we do care.” Scocozzo plans to personally present funds raised to organizations, when he travels to Newtown mid-January. He assures those purchasing the candles the money will go to credible charities directing the bulk of funds raised to those affected by the tragedy. “Christmas will never truly be Christmas again for those who have lost a child in this tragedy,” said Scocozzo. “Even if they go on to have eight other children, there will always be a hole in the lives of those families. With this mindset, he is work-

ing wholeheartedly on the project and hopes to direct $100,000 to Connecticut. Having thousands of distributors across the country makes this a real possibility. When asked what gave him the idea for the fundraiser, he credits daughter Mia. “Mia asked me what we could do, and I said that national and international distributors, and our customers, would step up and make a difference,” Scocozzo said. The motto of the fundraiser is “a brief time in our arms . . forever in our hearts.” It highlights his commitment the 27 people who died in the Dec. 14 tragedy. Candles may be purchased directly from Mia Bella’s Candles at 1 George Ave., online from

Mia and Bob Scocozzo each hold an ’In Memory Of ...’ candle they are producing at the ScentSations factory in WilkesBarre. Scent-Sations has supported such organizations as Make-A-Wish Foundation, Children’s Miracle Network, Susan G. Komen For The Cure, and dozens of military charities and families.

www.miabella.net, or from any one of thousands of independent distributor websites for $25 plus a flat $5.95 (US) or $9.95 (Canada) shipping charge, regardless of quantity ordered. All proceeds, or approximately $20 from the sale of each candle, will be directly to those affected by the tragedy.

Dear Santa, All I want for Christmas is a new pair of

UGG

Classic Short Sparkles

158 Memorial Hwy. Shavertown 1.800.49.SHOES AIMEE DILGER/THE TIMES LEADER

Mon-Fri 10-8:30 • Sat. 10-5:30 Sun. 11-5 • Dec. 22 & 23 10-7