SHAMOKIN - Dan McGaw will not petition the results or the integrity of the city's mayoral election.

McGaw lost to Bill Milbrand by a single vote to become Shamokin's mayor for a four-year term beginning in January.

He had considered petitioning the county court but said Friday he would not do so.

"Nope, he won," McGaw said.

The deadline to file a petition to recanvass the results of voting machines was Friday, five days after Northumberland County's election results were given initial certification, according to Pennsylvania Election Code and the Department of State.

Final certification is official when the county commissioners sign off on the results, which Alisha Herb, director of elections, expected either Friday afternoon or Monday.

If a recanvass had been ordered by the Court of Common Pleas, it would have had to be completed by Monday, 20 days after the general election, election code states.

McGaw didn't want to expand on what grounds he was considering a petition.

McGaw was a relative unknown when he announced his candidacy for mayor. He was the lone candidate in the Republican primary and seemed a long shot to defeat Democrat Bill Milbrand, a sitting city councilman.

He led Milbrand by nine votes after the votes cast at the city's 13 polling stations on Nov. 5 were tabulated. The final result came down to the tabulation of 46 absentee ballots, and Milbrand edged McGaw 603-602.

The remaining two years on Milbrand's council term will be filled by an appointment by city council.

McGaw said he was happy with his campaign and acknowledged that his profile is raised. He said he'd like to stay active albeit on the outskirts of city politics, and said it was hard to say if he'd run again.

"I'm just going to sit back and watch the world unfold," McGaw said, referencing the necessary appointment by council.

To have voting machines recanvassed, three qualified electors of a voting precinct must successfully petition the Court of Common Pleas to have the votes in that precinct counted again by a person appointed by the court.

Petitions contesting results of municipal elections in Upper Mahanoy and East Cameron townships were filed in county court. Petitioners cite behavior of a candidate in Upper Mahanoy Township and a candidate's relative in East Cameron Township in the separate petitions.

BY LARRY DEKLINSKI

COAL TOWNSHIP - A Shamokin-based rock band has hit a new high note with the release of their first music video.

Red Halo premiered "Fly Me Courageous" during a release party Thursday evening at Brewsers Sports Grille. The song was originally released in 1991 by Atlanta-based rock band Drivin' N' Cryin'.

The video played in front of family, friends and fans and also streamed online. It was filmed primarily at Goodfellas Café in Pottsville, an abandon industrial building and in the band's purple-colored tour bus that was recently purchased from "the side of the road" and given a cosmetic makeover.

Red Halo members Al Dobson, bass and vocals; Lee Lentes, guitar and vocals, and Ed Mertz, guitar, were on-hand to celebrate the occasion. Drummer Scott Slodysko was unable to attend the premier.

The video was shot by Mike Danger and the song recorded at Shadow Sound Design in Morea, Schuylkill County.

"Ours is way, way better," Lentes quickly replied when asked how Red Halo's version compared to the original.

Lentes said the band is working on an album of original material with a release date sometime next spring. In the meantime, the band will continue playing shows throughout northeastern Pa. Upcoming gigs include today at The Den in Hamilton; Sunday, Nov. 24, at WQSU FM The Pulse in Selinsgrove, and Wednesday, Nov. 27, at the Rescue Fire Company, Shamokin.

The band does not have an official website, but can be found online on at Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and ReverbNation.Larry Deklinski/Staff Photo

Recycling pick-up changed

MOUNT CARMEL - Moser Brothers Recycling will be picking up recyclables Dec. 5 instead of Nov. 28 due to the Thanksgiving Day holiday.

Centers closed for Thanksgiving

HARRISBURG - All PennDOT driver license and photo centers, including its full-service center in Harrisburg, will be closed Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Customers may still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services online through PennDOT's Driver and Vehicle Services website, www.dmv.state.pa.us.

A complete listing of PennDOT driver and photo license center closings in 2013 is available on the website under "News, Stats and Facts."

Parade participants sought

SUNBURY - Sunbury's Lite Fest is looking for people to participate in the Santa's Parade that will be held Friday. Anyone who has a group, event or just wants to be in a parade is asked to call 570-286-7820 to register and receive information. The parade forms at 6 p.m. on Raspberry Ave. and steps off at 6:30 p.m., traveling down Market Street to Cameron Park.

Open mic night planned

SUNBURY - Popular Outcasts Podcast is hosting Mike's No Mic Open Night from 8 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, at the Fraternal Order of the Eagles Lodge 503, 29-33 S. Third St.

The event will feature stand-up comics, spoken word poets, storytellers and other performers to entertain audience members. The organizers are looking for more participants.

Interested performers are asked to sign up at 6:30 p.m.

The show is free and open to the public.

Tree lighting in Zerbe Township set

TREVORTON - The annual Christmas Tree lighting and Santa Claus arrival in Zerbe Township will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1, at the Trevorton Pool Building.

The evening will begin with local singers, selections from a bell choir, a community sing along and Santa riding on his brand new community sled.

Food and drink will be available following the program.

The event is sponsored by the Trevorton Recreation Committee, Zerbe Township supervisors and the Trevorton Heritage Society, who did all the planning and interior decorating.

GLENSIDE - Christine M. Laughlin, of Mount Carmel, earned a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry from Arcadia University at the undergraduate commencement ceremony in May.

Reserve now for SCA dinner

CATAWISSA R.R. - The seventh annual Southern Columbia Senior Citizen Holiday Dinner will be held Thursday, Dec. 5, with attendees enjoying holiday music by the gospel choir and light refreshments at 4:30 p.m. in the library. Dinner will be served at 5 p.m. in the cafeteria.

The dinner is free to senior citizens who reside within the school district. To make reservations, call Deb Johnson at 570-356-3415.

Conyngham board to meet

WILBURTON - The Conyngham Township Board of Supervisors will meet for general purposes at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the township office.

Students at the Shamokin Area Middle/High School are making efforts to incorporate international cultures into the classroom. Students in Jennifer Makowski and Sue Clark's family and consumer science classes spent two days partaking in the teachings of Stephanie Whyte, a native of Calcutta, India. Stephanie's informational lessons focused on her personal experiences with authentic traditions of her Indian heritage. She devoted her time teaching the students about the perceptions of Indian culture, structure of the educational system, family traditions, family structure, arranged marriages and India's vast array of religions, cuisine, festivities and customs.

As well as opening students' minds to the culture of India, Whyte prepared an authentic meal for each class. Students sampled chicken curry, as well as kheer, a traditional Indian sweet dish. Whyte's presentation is the first step in planning and preparing for the upcoming Indian mock wedding that Makowski's classes will perform in January.

Code violations

MOUNT CARMEL - Borough code officer Robin Williams has cited five Mount Carmel residents for failing to pay for a quality of life violation.

Belinda Smith, of 18 E. Railroad St., was originally cited for trash and improper disposal on her property July 25; Dustin Congello, of 451 W. Third St., was initially cited for animal feces on his property July 9 and July 15; Bart McCollum, of 236 S. Vine St., was originally cited for high grass or weeds on his property July 9 and July 15; Craig W. Miller, of 52 N. Market St., was initially cited for high grass or weeds July 9; and Fredrick Holmes, of 433 W. Third St., was originally cited for trash and improper disposal on his property Sept. 11.

In each case, the accused never responded to the violation, police said.

All the citations were filed at the office of Magisterial District Judge Hugh A. Jones.

DUI arrest

SHAMOKIN TOWNSHIP - Charles Brent Hollingshead, 26, of Elysburg, was arrested by Trooper David Myers of state police at Stonington on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol relating to a traffic stop at 2:26 a.m. Friday at the intersection of Routes 487 and 61.

Police said Hollingshead was stopped for multiple traffic violations and displayed behaviors consistent with driving under the influence of alcohol.

Charges are pending lab results, police said.

Bad checks

MOUNT CARMEL - Officer Matthew Dillman cited Shaun M. Willis, of 209 A Street, Girardville, for issuing a bad check in the amount of $33.32 at Community Pharmacy on July 28.

Disorderly conduct

MOUNT CARMEL - Patrolman Jason Drumheller cited Christopher Lee Snyder, 28, of 344 E. Camp St., Mount Carmel, and Ronald Anthony Stancavage, 49, of 144 S. Chestnut St., Mount Carmel, for disorderly conduct relating to an Oct. 26 disturbance in the first block of North Oak Street.

Police said Snyder was observed screaming and attempting to fight occupants of a parked vehicle at 3:38 a.m. When Snyder was taken into custody, police said Stancavage started yelling in the street, after which he was taken into custody as well.

Underage drinking

MOUNT CARMEL - Cpl. David Donkochik has cited Kelsie Hoskie, 19, of Mount Carmel, for underage drinking relating to a disturbance at 2 a.m. Oct. 27 in the 500 block of East Fifth Street.

Teen cited

MOUNT CARMEL - A 15-year-old borough girl was cited by Cpl. David Donkochik for harassment and disorderly conduct involving a disturbance at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31 in the 100 block of South Oak Street.

Police said the teen was observed by a witness attempting to prompt another female to fight and attempted to drag the victim into an alley way.

Disorderly conduct

MOUNT CARMEL - Officer Matthew Dillman cited Amy Carl, 30, of 46 E. Avenue, Mount Carmel, for disorderly conduct in connection with an Oct. 20 incident at Hickory and Chestnut streets.

Police were interviewing Carl during an investigation when she began screaming and walking away. When Chief of Police Todd Owens went to take Carl into custody, she allegedly attempted to punch him.

Public drunkenness

MOUNT CARMEL - Shawn M. Soliday, 29, of 138 S. Beech St., Mount Carmel, was cited by Cpl. David Donkochik for public drunkenness involving a disturbance at 3:28 a.m. Nov. 17 in front of the Sons of Poland on North Oak Street.

Police said Soliday was intoxicated and yelled an obscenity at a police car as it passed him.

Vandalism

MARION ACRES - Conyngham Township police reported someone used a key to vandalize the passenger side of a blue 2006 Ford pickup truck at the rear of 9 Sherwood St. between 1 p.m. Nov. 19 and 10:30 a.m. Nov. 20.

Anyone with information about the vandalism is urged to contact police at 570-554-4349.

Tire slashers sought

MINERSVILLE - Schuylkill County Crimestoppers and Minersville Police are asking for the public's help in finding the person or persons responsible for slashing the tires on 26 vehicles in the borough earlier this month.

Police said the vandalism happened while the vehicles were parked, unattended, in the New Minersville section of the borough. The damage happened on Nov. 3 between 1 and 5 a.m. primarily along Saint Francis, Pine Hill, Oak, Pottsville and Lydle streets.

Police said a neighbor in the area saw three people, but couldn't identify them since it was dark and because they were wearing hoods.

Damage was estimated to be around $5,000, police said.

Callers are asked to refer to incident number 11-24-13 when calling toll-free, 1-877-TIPS4SC (877-847-7472). All information received will remain confidential.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Shamokin Area Middle/High School announced its distinguished honor roll and honor roll for the first marking period of 2013-14.

A student must achieve an average of 90 to 94.9 for honor recognition; 95 or higher for distinguished honors. All subjects except driver training are included. Also, all subjects must be passed and a minimum of 90 percent in deportment is required.

Distinguished honors

Grade 12: Batool Alvi, Jacob Arnold, Elizabeth Bednar, Alisha Black, Brianna Bonshock, Olivia Bonshock, Alyssa Britton, Logan Carpenter, Joseph Colangelo, Jordan Collins, Eryn Cook, Nicole Cullen, Daniel Delbaugh, Cody Derr, Noelle Erickson, Justin Forbes, Kayla Gordon, Alyssa Green, Nathaniel Haggerty, Mitchell Haupt, Molly Haupt, Austin Huntington, Selah Lucas, Dana Madl, Draven Miller, Mariah Mong, Laryah Moyle, Catelin Pancher, Joshua Pappas, Matthew Renn, Adam Richardson, Melissa Rishel, Levi Rosini, Kevin Searls, Anthony Shalamanda, Alyssa Shuey, Kaitlyn Shultz, Kristina Slodysko, Melissa Smallets, Caleb Stahl, Austin Stine, Helana Supsic, Erik Taylor, Corinne Weikel, Shane Williams and Natalie Wolfe.

Grade 11: Tyler Candelora, Samantha Carpenter, Jasmine Coleman, Joseph Deptula, Megan Dimmick, Heather Elliott, Draven Faus, Bridgette Hine, Darian Jones, Elizabeth Kapushinski, Megan Kerstetter, Zachary Koharski, Brett Long, Kathryn Madara, Brianna Martin, Mitchell McGinn, Josiah Miller, Graeme Shappell, Jacob Snyder, Taylor Tobias, Casey Wilson, Tucker Yost and Cierra Zimmerman.

Grade 10: Jensen Bordell, Patricia Clark, Cheyenne Collier, Caleigh Corrigan, Jeannette Costa, Justin Deutsch, Jacob Dirienzo, Brady Haupt, Russell Henz, Kyle Kauffman, Evelyn Madrak, Brayson Pawelczyk, Christopher Petraskie, Adam Philhower, Danielle Reed, Isaiah Reiprich, Kelsey Rogers, Ivy Savidge, Paige Sherman, James Snyder, Dakota Sutsko, Sarah Thomson, Christina Troutman and Cameron Wayne.

Grade 9: Kayla Baney, Madison Blackwell, Patrick Bradigan, Samuel Deptula, Cierra Eby, Thomas Eby, Amy Frasch, Madison Rodarmel, Kaitlyn Schrader, Samantha Startzel, Matthew Vrona and Aleksandr Washuta.

Grade 8: Abagail Blass, Kiara Bonshock, Michael Breslin, Randall Brosius, Alexandra Campbell, Jacob Carpenter, Emma Clark, Taylor Cullen, Trent Curcie, Anna Delbaugh, Matthew Dimmick, Kelsee Dunn, Katlyn Ehman, Maryssa Erdman, Summer Finkelstein, Abbi Fiorey, Kira Golden, Mackenzie Hasuga, Jacob Jeremiah, Nicholas Kirkner, Jennifer Kozlowski, Ethan Lawton, Emma Mangiaruga, McKenna Markowski, Sadie Miller, Kamilyah Nazih, Joseph Olah, Madison Pancher, Colton Pollock, Cameron Popiel, Kali Rebuck, Cameron Scandle, Keyona Shoff, Ciara Tharp and George Zalar.

Grade 7: Spencer Balonis, Alexis Barnes, Krista Baumeister, Sarah Baumeister, Ashley Beach, Jared Berkheimer, Aidan Blackwell, Karrie Bower, Marshall Buggy, Sierra Burd, Reina Cardona, Steven Carpenter, Alyssa Charriez, Chloe Dales, Juliana DeGreen, John Delorso, Lydia Deptula, Alyvia Erb, Skylar Figard, Jeffrey Fuernisen, Mara Hasuga, Teagan Heath, Zoey Hockenbroch, Chryssa Kehler, Collin Kern, Timothy Kile, Jayla Klase, Chloe Kramer, Jameson Kramer, Xavier Lehman, Ferdinand Madara, Samantha Magee, Joseph Masser, Morgan McGinn, Abigail Nye, Jessa Paczkoski, Autumn Purcell, Robert Rebuck, Lake Rodarmel, Quinn Rollman, Joan Schaeffer, Matthew Schiccatano, Andrea Segura, Peyton Shurock, Mason Smink, Brooke Strausser, Matthew Swartz, Abigail Thew, Skylar Truchon, John Wagner, Lauren Wagner, Payton Whary, Valerie Yost, Blake Zalar, Clif Zheng and Zoe Zimmerman.

Honor roll

Grade 12: James Adams, Catherine Augustitus, Steven Balonis, Daulton Baumerts, Kelsey Bryant, Kylie Christiana, Andrew Claycomb, Tabitha Demsko, Michael Donahue, Breanna Dowling, Brendan Drachler, Sara Drumheiser, Caitlin Fellin, Megan Goodrich, Katelyn Green, Stefanie Hile, Samantha Holdren, Jennifer Hornberger, Ashley Huxta, Richard Jones, Jeffrey Kashner, Zachary Lehman, Corey Levi, Jaelyn Madara, Sean McLaughlin, Marielle Miller, Brian Persing, Danielle Polidario, Cheyenne Popewczak, Morgan Purcell. Noah Rachau, Lea Richardson, Elizabeth Roberts, Trisha Rosini, William Ruch, Michael Rumberger, Lydia Sandri, Brooke Sejuit, Ryan Shevitski, Courtney Shirmer, Jodi Smith, Victoria Snyder, Michael Som, Bailey Stank, John Thompson, Abigail Troutman, Jasmine Wagner, Brianna Wengrenovich, Ryan Wilk, Nicole Wyland and Ronald Zimmerman.

Grade 11: Tara Blom, Hunter Bloom, Alek Bonshock, Brandon Brida, Jill Britton, John Brown, Kourtnie Chapman, Autumn Costa, John Demsko, Cole Fegley, Annamaria Finkelstein, Tyler Forbes, Devvon Gallie, Tevin Gonzalez, Derek Gross, Chyna Haley, Carson Houser, Ronald Laniewski, Erika Lentes, Brittany Madison, Kayla Marchetti, Brittany Markhorst, Christopher McCabe, Rhiannon McKinney, Brianna Moore, Zachary Moyer, Carley Nash, Darian Paul, Ronald Rhoads, Jessica Schleig, Taylor Steinhart, Feliph Taylor, Jenna Wasarhelyi, Salvatore Whitnum, Dylan Williams and Jarret Willis.

Grade 10: Michael Britton, Preston Burns, Thomas Campbell, Bradley Carpenter, Claudia Collins, Dilin Decample, Jared Dunn, Gabrielle Erb, Haley Erb, Lillie Fidelman, Ryan Gass, Megan Grinaway, Ashley Gruszewski, Quintin Herb, Andrew Jones, Samuel Marrone, Emily McDevitt, Emma Miller, Maxwell Morrison, Kobe Neidig, Travis Nelson, Kasey Puchalski, Donna Rania, Brett Rebuck, Kayla Schell, Tye Som, Cole Supsic, Nicole Thompson, Rebecca Wargo, Jakob Weaver, Danielle Wilk and Callie Zimmerman.

Grade 9: Zachary Anascavage, Guenivere Angstadt, Jacob Bartol, Madyson Bateman, Alex Black, Scarlett Brown, Cheyenne Burasz, Robert Carapellucci, Desiree Cohoon, Anique Cress, Rebecca Delbaugh, Frank Doone, Aleea Faus, Tiffany Gordon, Brandi Hatzel, Alexis Herb, Carollyn Hine, Cameron Jacoby, Mackenzie Koharski, Jenai McKeen, Lindsey Miller, Kiara Moore, Abigale Mummey, Sara Popewczak, John Pufnak, Carson Quinn, Jarred Rachau, Anne Richardson, Geraldo Rodriguez, Andrew Shalamanda, Julianna Shuman, Aubrey Snyder, Ellen Spotts, Brianna Stanke, Marcos Velazquez, Gabrielle Velez, David Wolfe, Brittany Wondoloski, Page Wormald and Tobias Zerbe.

Grade 8: Kasey Brown, Haley Burd, Madison Clauser, Brady Collins, Madison Daya, Marcus Deivert, Emily Demartino, Brydee Derk, Charles Diehl, Gloria Drayer, Colby Edmondson, Warren Eveland, Brittney Farner, Michael Faust, Kendra Haight, Brooke Hovenstine, Patrick Latsha, Dalton Madara, Victoria Nicola, Kaile Pancher, Heather Reigle, Courtney Russell, Scott Schleig, Kayla Shaffer, Rebecca Shevitski, Stephen Smith, Jadyn Snyder, Elizabeth Stevens, Wanda Sulouff, Brianna Wary, Jasmine Wasilewski, Tessa Wheary and Daniel Zaborny.

Grade 7: Melania Amato, Cynthia Baumerts, Mariah Benedict, Colby Bixler, Thomas Brown, Gavin Clattenburg, Madison Collins, Lauren Drumheiser, Jacob Eschbach, Ryleigh Fegley-Cull, Nicholas Feudale, Mackenzie Glosek, Aubree Haight, Barbara Jemmott, Zachary Johnson, Taylor Kashner, Luke Kiracofe, Deven Klock, Matthew Knowles, Brianna Lehman, Owen Long, Cordell Lucas, Joshua Mackenzie, Tyler Marcinick, Cameron Orner, Melissa Pangburn, Shyann Rubio, Arcadio Saez, Destiny Sassani, Matthew Sheriff, Ethan Tharp, Jacob Thompson, Tristen Troutman, Savanna Vercruyssen, Dylan Walters, Richard Wright and Zane Hartman.

When I was a kid living on Greenwood Hill in Pottsville, we staged a Tom Thumb wedding at the local playground. Everyone got involved, even the bullies, decked out in their Sunday best. We girls wore frilly dresses and plastic hair bands with veils attached. In the empty lot that was our playground, we lined up for photographs and a few days later, there we were, on display in The Pottsville Republican.

I still have that photo, I can still name the kids huddled around the bride, and, what strikes me is how dusty we were. Despite our finery, despite our efforts to look our best, our patent leather Mary Janes had lost their sheen and the boys' oxfords looked shabby and gray. It wasn't our fault. We had done our best, but the playground was no more than coal dirt and every step we took stirred up a cloud of dust.

Playing baseball, when we slid into base, we blackened our pants and sneakers. Wearing shorts, we darkened our bare knees. Blackened sneakers, dark knees, the stuff of summers spent on coal banks and coal dirt lots.

I've just been to a photography exhibit in Paris bearing that name - "Dark Knees." The photographer, a pioneer of street photography with an international reputation, is from Wilkes-Barre. His name is Mark Cohen and for more than 50 years, night after night, after days spent in a commercial photography studio, he has tracked pictures, an affair of choice and chance, in the streets of Wilkes-Barre, Scranton and towns in between.

I did not know Mark Cohen's work and I discovered him listening to the radio, listening to an announcer struggle in French with the pronunciation of "Wilkes-Barre," as I asked myself if he was really talking about the Wilkes-Barre I know.

Listening more closely, I learned that a photographer from that town was showing his work at "Le Bal," an exhibition space in Paris devoted to photography. Checking out the information on the web, I promptly got on the metro and went to see the show.

There, against blood-red walls, I discovered a continuous line of 16-by-20 photographs, mostly black and white, traveling across the four walls of a large underground exhibition space. I did not discover Wilkes-Barre or the coal region: no breakers, no strip mines, no deserted downtown that had once seen better days. There was nothing that deliberately drew attention to a specific time or place. There weren't even people, at least not people posing, composed faces, bodies shot from head to toe.

Instead, there are fragments: a coat collar, a pearled eyeglass chain, a chin, a brooch, two calves wrapped in rayon knee socks, two feet wearing leather buckle shoes. Sometimes there is only a forehead, a hairline, bodies without head or feet, hands folded in the lap of a girl wearing cut-off jeans, a bare bony torso, dark knees against a background of vacant lots and clapboard houses, with a stairway leading to paradise…

There are also still lifes: the tops of unlaced boots, a string of outdoor lights, tomatoes ripening on an old wooden table in somebody's backyard.

These fragments, these photos, often beautiful and shot through with a disturbing grace, are not restful. Cohen's exhibition is not restful. Truncated bodies, defiant or frightened eyes, a fist slammed against a car window with the photographer inside, connote aggression and this notion is inherent to his technique and work.

Cohen has defined himself as a "trigger-happy gunslinger" and he has called his way of taking photos "grab shots."

Working for 35 years as a commercial photographer, when he closed shop each day, he began a second life, becoming a different person from the man "doing" weddings or annual reports.

At nightfall, he set out, a stalker of sorts, with three rolls of film, a lightweight camera and a flash, entering a world filled with pictures, out there waiting for him. What was necessary, as much as style and technique, was the courage to make the "grab."

Walking through the streets of Wilkes-Barre, Cohen, like a gunslinger, shot from the hip, camera in one hand, flash in the other. Constantly on the move but using a wide-angle lens, he had to get close to people, dangerously close at times, confronting raised fists, threats, insults and run-ins with the police. Approaching his subjects, according himself "artistic licence" to burst into their lives, Cohen "flashed" them, grabbing the picture and then, just as quickly, merging back into the flow of street life.

Returning to his studio after having shot more than 100 photos, he might make no more than eight prints. In many of the shots, choice and accident did not mesh-or the picture he envisioned did not take off once he captured it within the rectangle that is his signature format, one he never crops.

The next night, he was back in the street, following instinct, believing chance, luck, fate, call it what you will, would deliver new treasures, fragments of himself as much as of the place where he anchored his work.

Night after night, Cohen forayed into the streets of Wilkes-Barre, fueled by a shot of adrenaline and the desire to delve deeper into himself.

Recognition and critical acclaim came early and in 1973, at age 30, the photographer had a one-man show at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Had he settled in the city, he might have become a star of the New York photography world. Instead, after a quick visit, Cohen got back in his car and drove home to Wilkes-Barre because he "felt like he wasn't done there."

Forty years later, the photographer moved to Philadelphia. It took a long time to wrap things up.

Cohen claims he could have just as well taken his photos in Elmira, N.Y., as in Wilkes-Barre. I'm not so sure. Too much coal dust, too much darkness, too much grace born of a violent, mystical marriage between a man and a place: the coal region of northeastern Pennsylvania, an intrinsic part of that self he mined for nearly 50 years.

Some readers may already know Cohen's work. Some may have seen his 2010 exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. There is also a book, "Grim Streets," published in 2005. But, except for a college show in the early '60s, there has never been an exhibit of his work on his home turf. Too close for comfort? I wish we could have a chance to tell.

(Honicker can be reached at honicker.republican herald@gmail.com)

MOUNT CARMEL - Family Home Medical Home Health Agency announces that Tara Venna, a registered nurse, is its new market development coordinator.

Venna earned a bachelor's degree in nursing from Mansfield University and received her clinical education through Robert Packer Hospital and Guthrie Clinics in Sayre. She holds certifications through Marywood University in the areas of personal care home administration, clinical management/complication prevention program, community resources, social services and gerontology. She also holds certifications in peripheral and central venous catheters, wound guidance and diagnosing, and OASIS documentation.

A nurse for 17 years, Venna has spent 14 years focused on home care and community-based nursing. She believes assisting area health care providers and their patients with managing transitions in care from one clinical setting to the next is a critical need in the post-health reform arena.

"Family Home Medical's slogan is 'Where you become family.' This philosophy, along with their excellent reputation of serving our local community for over 20 years, is why I am very proud and excited to become a new member of their team," Venna said in a company statement.

She serves as a board member of Northumberland County Council for the Arts and Humanities and is an active member of the Brush Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce. She is also a member and volunteers for the American Heart Association. She enjoys exercising, volunteering, and spending time with her husband, Chris, and daughters Gabrielle and Gianna.

"Tara's experience, knowledge and enthusiasm will prove to be invaluable assets to both Family Home Medical and the community we serve," said Kathleen Hoffman, chief operating officer. "We are extremely lucky to have her join our team."

COAL TOWNSHIP - Shamokin Area Elementary School announced its distinguished honor roll and honor roll for the first marking period of the 2013-14 school year.

The honor roll is based on the average of the major subjects. Distinguished honors is the range of 95 to 100 percent and honor roll is 90 to 94 percent, along with earning "satisfactory" in conduct and minor subjects.

Distinguished honors

Grade 6: Kanwal Alvi, Jacob Alvord, Lily Avans, Margaret Bowers, Gabriel Burns, Abigail Charriez, Morgan Clemens, Eric Curran, Violet Dales, Raven Depeal, Joshua Dombrowski, Jayce Fagerstrom, Madison Foulds, Rhaeghan Henz, Victoria Hine, Blake Kane, Devin Kays, Kaylee Koshinski, Farrah Krum, Janet Kulish, Emma Laughlin, Brittney Lute, Blake Markowski, Cherie Martin, Sheyenne Moore, Will Orme, Ashley Ponatoski, Hunter Rodarmel, Abby Rodman, Sophie Rossnock, Brianna Roth, Sara Ryman, Jasmine Scandle, Angelina Schaeffer, Telaysia Shafer, Isibelle Sienkiewicz, Emily Slanina, Molly Stevens, Emma Tomcavage, Angel Velazquez and Katelyn Zawalick.

Grade 5: Amanda Angstadt, Joshua Bashore, Hunter Bates, Tia Bressi, Kaine Bressi, Devin Britton, Brianna Bullock, Nathan Buranich, Katye Clark, Olivia Coller, Emma Dailey, Cameron Davis, Gavin DeGreen, Kyele Dehoutaint, Ryleigh Faust, Adam Guzik, Jackson Hancock, Blake Harris, Olivia Haupt, Austin Haupt, Thomas Herrold, Shane Hess, Tyler Kalman, Rosalind Kane, Zackary Kinsey, Jaden Kodack, Hayden Kramer, Emma Kramer, Kali Leiby, Destinee Leonard, Maximus Madden, Gabrielle Marrone, Rylie McCarty, Edward Morales, Grace Nazih, Ariana Nolter, Ashlea Oakum, Ian Paul, Alyssa Persing, Brent Reed, Sydney Rhoads, Mackenzie Roman, Aleyna Russel, Casen Sandri, Caleb Shingara, Jessica Simpson, Kathryn Slotterback, Destiny Smith, Gwen Sulouff, Elizabeth Swilp, Joseph Tarr Jr., Haelee Taylor, Nicholas Velez, Kayla Yadlosky, Emma Zimmerman and Michael Zimmerman II.

Grade 4: Skye Adams, Wade Alleman, Kathleen Amato, Katrina Angstadt, Cameron Annis, Skye Balonis, Xander Baylor, Makenzie Bixler, Sarah Blenkinsop, Kameron Bowers, Gina Carapellucci, Terelina Conbeer, Richard Conner Jr., Jordan Cruse, Abigail Cryts, Dominic Delorso, Robert Depeal, Dominic Diehl, Gavin Dietterick, Abigail Eschbach, Tricity Frederick, Kayla Harvey, Mason Hogancamp, Isabelle Kapushinski, Skye Keefer, Craig Kerstetter, Garrett Kitchen, John Kodack III, Riley Macaluso, Dominic Michaels, Savannah Monroe, Marcus Moyer, Adell Munson, Morgan Nolter, Gavin Nye, Bryce Pancher, Airin Petrovich, Noah Phillips, Odin Rabka, Hunter Rodman, Brenden Rogers, Molly Rossnock, Mackenzie Rowe, Hannah Schaeffer, Dallas Scicchitano, Colin Seedor, Claudia Seidel, Libby Shingara, Jadyn Shipe, Kandi Slodysko, Airiana Smallwood, Carter Smink, Madisen Smith, Xavier Smith, Sarah Snavely, Scott Snyder Jr., John Swank, Kyle Todd, Madyson Waugh and Christian Wesloskie.

Honor roll

Grade 6: Conner Anascavage, Sara Baney, Matthew Bellis, Ivan Bilbay, Tessa Bowman, Paige Campbell, Stacie Dees, Abbey Diorio, Deven Elliott, Holly Fegley, Jared Foreman, Tate Frederick, Benjamin Ginck, Allie Godfrey, Gabrielle Greager, Blake Hartzel, Leslie Haupt, Kirstyn Kehler, Rachel Kerstetter, Hunter Kerstetter, Amber Klinger, Sarah Kratzer, Alexandria Madison, James Mench, Kaila Moore, Makayla Moroskie, Tori Moser, Sierra Neidig, Andrew Nelson, Connor Nye, Brock Pancher, Nathan Persing, Robert Prawdzik, John Schofield Jr., Rachel Shader, Alyssa Snyder, Christina Snyder, Alyssa Swartz, Myah Thompson, Jonathan Washuta, Logan Williams, Cheyanne Wolf, Megan Wywadis, Chloe Yoder and Nicholas Zimmerman.

Grade 5: Alexa Bainbridge, Austin Bainbridge, Jonathan Bevan, Emilee Bland, Clarissa Blom, Collin Bozza, Thomas Bramhall, Madison Bridy, Taleah Brobst, Katlyn Brunson, Sean Calabro, Savanna Carl, Jaiden Dees, William Delbaugh, Rebecca Derck, Paige Ditzel, Collin Duganitz, Mathias Eckbold, Ethan Eltringham, Diana Faust, Tessa Fegley-Kublic, Aaron Frasch, Kieran Gallagher, Seth Hart, Damian Hile, Hannah Hockenbroch, Tumaje Islam, Alexa Jacobs, Zajorie James, Shanon Jilinski, Kayla Kemmerer, Cassandra Kilkenny, Mark Kiracofe, Paige Kleman, Gabrielle Kurtz, Marissa Lehman, Aaron Leiby, Dylan Liebl, Diana Martinez, Brenton McCaffery, Kierstyn McDonald, Dennis McFee, Damian Meiser, Matthew Metzger, Shanikwa Moore, Nicolas Neidig, Jose Olivera III, Noah Orner, Alexia Ortiz, Megan Roman, Akeya Schartiger, Aaron Shicora, Jantzen Shoff, Paige Shoffler, Mackenzie Snyder, Owen Sosnoski, Mariah Surace, Jacob Turner, Tyler Whary, Dominic Wilson, Brionna Wyland and Freyja Yeager.

Grade 4: Reese Alleman, Arissa Arnold, Damon Backes, Miranda Balthaser, Kloey Baney, Brenden Beaver, Julissa Bednar, Brian Bergstresser, Santino Carapellucci, Janetssa Carter Montanez, Mackenzie Clattenburg, Benjamin Cohoon, Cody Dombrowski, Braelyn Duncheskie, Zandra Finkelstein, Rachael Fortune, Presley Herman, Destiny Hinkle, Emily Honicker, Annie Hornberger, David Kaleta, Caydin Kern, Gavin Kodack, Colton Lynch, Iris McKown, Josiah Molina, Jacob Moll, Carson Ososkie, Rachel Pancher, Brianna Pancher, Joslynn Rhodes, Ethan Roughton, Joseph Sacco IV, Francis Sanzotto, Anastasia Schank, Rachael Schoch, Brady Sebasovich, Daniel Serrato, Dakota Shaw, Paige Shingara, Jesse Shultz, Camden Smith, Bray Smith, Taylor Swank, Sarah Vazquez, Allison Walters, Emily Wheary, Elyse Whitmer, Jesse Worgen and Kolbie Zuech.

SUNBURY - The city will get money toward flood mitigation from the same pot that provided mine-reclamation money for the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area.

State Rep. Lynda Schlegel Culver (R-108) said the Sunbury Municipal Authority's flood mitigation project was approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority and will be a recipient of state funding under this year's Act 13 Marcellus Legacy Fund program.

The authority's rehabilitation project was one of four projects selected under the fund's flood mitigation program. The authority will receive $155,418 to use toward the rehabilitation of its flood control system.

"With the Susquehanna River and its tributaries running through the 108th District, nearly all residents recognize the importance of the flood control system in Sunbury," Culver was quoted in a press release. "I'm happy that this funding is available to the Sunbury Municipal Authority, and that impact fees which are being collected statewide by the gas industry can go to good use."

State Rep. Mike Peifer thinks Pennsylvania hunters need a reason to hunt coyotes.

Every year, the Wayne County legislator sees more and more on his bear hunting trips. On his last trip, he said his party saw 10 coyotes and shot four.

Peifer, R-189, Honesdale, has introduced HB 1534, which would allow the Pennsylvania Game Commission to offer a $25 payment per coyote. State law currently allows hunters to kill an unlimited number of coyotes year-round with a hunting or fur-taker license. The bill cleared the state House Game and Fisheries Committee last week and now awaits a full House vote.

In addition to what he's seen in his 30-plus years in the woods, Peifer said he has heard anecdotal evidence from constituents who tell him about hearing yips and howls where they never heard them before and losing pet cats to coyotes.

"People aren't shooting them," he said "We're not controlling the population to where it should be."

Game Commission estimates show a spike in the coyote population. Travis Lau, the commission's press secretary, said the commission estimated the state's coyote population to be about 15,000 to 20,000 a decade ago. Last year, according to survey results extrapolated for the entire state, hunters harvested around 40,000 coyotes, he said.

Gauging the Eastern Coyote's effect on the ecosystem is much more difficult. The Game Commission isn't sure whether the species was native to Pennsylvania before European settlement. Coyotes were first documented in Pennsylvania in the 1930s and 1940s. Mr. Lau described the early history of Europeans, coyotes and wolves as a "blur."

In the mid-1600s, Pennsylvania's colonial government paid a bounty of 10 to 15 shillings for every wolf killed, Mr. Lau said. "That's really the only record of wolves" in the Commonwealth, he said. "Those wolves could have been coyotes."

The line between wolf and coyote continues to blur to this day. Many biologists think today's Eastern Coyote is probably part wolf.

Jonathan Way, Ph.D., a research scientist at Clark University in Worcester, Mass., who specializes in Eastern Coyotes, prefers the term "coywolves." In a paper he published this year in the ecological journal Canadian Field-Naturalist, he summarized previous research explaining the origin of this hybrid species.

"It is now generally accepted that Northeastern Coyotes formed in the early 1900s in southern Ontario through hybridization between colonizing coyotes from the west and remnant populations of Eastern Wolves," he wrote in the paper.

In an email interview, Dr. Way said central and western Pennsylvania is at the edge of this area where coyotes and wolves mingled. "Admittedly, not a lot of work has been done in PA to know for sure," he said.

He called the idea of putting a bounty on coyotes "nonsensical." The predators have an important ecological role in helping regulate prey populations, he said. With the extirpation of cougars and wolves, the coyote is the second-largest predator the state has left after the black bear.

"The most common-sense thing for the environment would be to have people leave cats inside and welcome the natural predation that coyotes/coywolves provide to make deer and other animal (populations) healthier," he said.

Scott Bearer, Ph.D., a forest ecologist with The Nature Conservancy, said the organization has noticed an increase in coyote population on its Pennsylvania properties, based on more frequent sightings of coyotes, their scat and their tracks.

The conservancy manages large properties in the state and works to promote overall biodiversity. Dr. Bearer said the organization has not seen any negative effects of the coyote's population boom.

Mr. Lau said the Game Commission has not noticed any change in the doe-to-fawn ratio, a metric it uses to gauge trends in deer populations. The commission calculates the ratio for each of its 23 wildlife management units. Deer populations are stable or increasing at all of the units, except one near Pittsburgh, he said. He said coyotes could be affecting small mammal populations, though the commission would not be able to quantify this effect, especially on species such as mice and voles.

Rep. Peifer said the $25 payment would give hunters a reason to manage the population of an animal they would otherwise have no reason to shoot. Nobody eats coyotes. Blasting them with a shotgun - the preferred method, according to coyote hunting tips found on the Game Commission's website - often renders the pelt unusable, he said.

But coyote hunting is fun, Rep. Peifer said. He talked about a coyote hunt he went on last year. "We saw a lot of tracks but we couldn't get on them," he said. "They're cagey." Offering the bounty could be another way of getting more people out in the woods hunting, he said.

The bill could get stopped in its tracks, though. This week, House legislators proposed an amendment allowing hunting on Sunday to the bill, he said. While Rep. Peifer supports Sunday hunting, he thinks this amendment would kill the bill.

"It's a poison pill," he said. "You can't win there."

Contact the writer at bgibbons@timesshamrock.com, @bgibbonsTT on Twitter

Divorces

Reed Davy, 123 November Drive, Camp Hill, from Tabitha Davy, 156 Linden St., Sunbury. Married April 23, 2004.

Ashley D. McHale from Brian J. McHale, both of 308 Turkey Hill Road, Elysburg. Married April 21, 2007.

Marriage licenses

Chad Andrew Bohner to Shanda Le Wells, both of 914 E. Sunbury St., Shamokin. Issued Nov. 21, 2013.

Shawn Alan Knotts, 2536 Snydertown Road, Danville, to Krista Lynn Reitz-Maust, 1000 Fort Augusta Ave., Sunbury. Issued Nov. 23, 2013.

Property transfers

Daniel J. Rowe and Adrianne D. Rowe to Daniel J. Rowe and Adrianne D. Rowe, property in Ralpho Township, $1.

Kristi S. Mascaluso, Kristi S. Ritchey and Bradley D. Ritchey to Gregory D. Fenix and Stacy L. Fenix, property in Coal Township, $128,000.

Beatrice E. Gruneberg to Douglas R. Piper, property in Coal Township, $95,000.

Regina E. Wachowski to Ann Louise Curran, property in Shamokin Township, $2,000.

Amy Babb, Marcus Babb, William L. Deitz Jr., Christopher M. Deitz and Leslie Ann Upshaw to Leslie Ann Upshaw, property in Coal Township, $1.

J&JS Partners LP to Robert F. Pesarchick and Pamela L. Pesarchick, property in Shamokin, $11,000.

Cecile W. Quick and Dona Bersbach (executrices), Wanda H. Gribbin (estate) to Randall E. Neaus and Joyce M. Neaus, property in Coal Township, $15,000.

Richard A. Gallinot and Joellen Gallinot to Christopher F. Fausnaught, property in Ralpho Township, $120,000.

James C. Swank and Suzanne L. Swank to Douglas Neidig and Susan Neidig, property in Shamokin, $18,000.

Daniel A. Dietterick II (executor), Daniel A. Dietterick (estate) to Angelo A. Venna and Mary Ann Venna, property in Kulpmont, $20,000.

Jean Ososkie to Jean Ososkie, property in Mount Carmel, $1.

Jean Ososkie to Ronald Moser and Debra Moser, property in Mount Carmel, $1,000.

Roland A. Lambert and Gene Craig Lambert (by agent), Linda M. Williams (agent) to Gene Craig Lambert, property in Mount Carmel, $1.

Walter J. Kirchhoff Jr. and Sally A. Beck to Walter J. Kirchhoff Jr., property in Mount Carmel, $1.

Northeast Apartments LLC to Northeast Apartments LLC, property in Mount Carmel, $1.

Miners Bank to George H. Foulke, property in Mount Carmel, $38,500.

Michael P. McSurdy and Donna M. Toter to Michael P. McSurdy, property in Rockefeller Township, $1.

Ronald L. Oxenrider to Katie M.O. Bordner and Adrian D. Bordner, property in Jordan Township, $1.

Carl E. Weaver and Rosalie J. Weaver to Carl E. Weaver, Rosalie J. Weaver and Weaver Irrevocable Residential and Income Trust, property in Rockefeller Township, $1.

Donna Grose and Roger Grose to Forrest O. Potter and Laura E. Potter, property in Mount Carmel, $22,000.

Tammy Jean Krieger, David A. Krieger Sr., Jodi Ellen Campbell, Bonny S. Barry, Douglas F. Barry, Kelly Ann Courts and Robert J. Courts to Joyce A. Pappas, property in Coal Township, $56,000.

Joseph Henry Cwikleski (estate), Santa C. Kelly (executrix) to John J. Kovach and Jaime N. Kovach, property in Mount Carmel, $500.

First National Bank of Pennsylvania, Guaranty Bank, to Clark & Hess Enterprises LLC, property in Rush Township, $135,000.

Northumberland County Sheriff, Keith M. Searles and Keith M. Searls to Deutsche Bank National Trust Co., property in Shamokin, $1,854.98.

Amy G. Klock to Susan L. Campbell and Larry E. Klock, property in Rockefeller Township, $1.

Timothy Ryan and Leah Jane Ryan to Vanessa Jo-Ann Schooley, property in Coal Township, $115,000.

Laverne R. Brown and Cindy K. Brown to Johnathan McLaughlin and Deanna McLaughlin, property in Upper Mahanoy Township, $47,000.

Courtney M. Conrad, Courtney M. Sebastian and Tim Sebastian to Janine N. Fegley and Mary Ann Atchley, property in Mount Carmel, $65,000.

Northumberland County Tax Claims Bureau to Barrett Bolam, property in Mount Carmel Township, $589.01.

Northumberland County Tax Claims Bureau to Barrett Bolam, property in Mount Carmel Township, $499.72.

Northumberland County Tax Claims Bureau to Vernon L. Hoke, property in Shamokin, $2,251.62.

Northumberland County Tax Claims Bureau to Vernon L. Hoke, property in Shamokin, $3,617.33.

Northumberland County Tax Claims Bureau to Jennifer Andino, property in Zerbe Township, $2,542.60.

Northumberland County Tax Claims Bureau to Jennifer Andino, property in Kulpmont, $1,804.71.

Northumberland County Tax Claims Bureau to Jose Velazquez Jr., property in Coal Township, $1,603.04.

Northumberland County Tax Claims Bureau to Guy Leroy, property in East Cameron Township, $6,275.18.

Northumberland County Tax Claims Bureau to Lawrence Novack and Josephine M. Novack, property in Shamokin, $2,396.75.

Northumberland County Tax Claims Bureau to Denise Brown and John Brown, property in Shamokin, $1,963.75.

SHAMOKIN - "Overwhelmed."

That was how Robert Wheary and Antoinette (Toni) Scicchitano described their reaction to a fundraiser Saturday evening that will help them recover from a fire that destroyed their homes Oct. 9.

Wheary, Scicchitano and her ex-boyfriend, John Schulein, lost nearly everything when a fire of undetermined origin destroyed 49-53 N. Berry St. in the Boydtown section of Coal Township.

An estimated 400 people were expected to cram into the Knights of Columbus building during the course of the $15 night.

Scicchitano tried, unsuccessfully, to hold back tears.

"I feel like I don't deserve this. I feel like I should get involved the next time something tragic happens to someone," he said. "I most definitely will."

Heather Nahodil, who knows Wheary and Scicchitano through their children, started organizing the event a week after the fire. The preparations paid off.

Fifty items, including a iPad Mini and Coors Light Mountain Bike, were donated and used in a Chinese auction. Also donated were finger foods, 400 hot dogs and 80 pounds of ground beef.

Five local bands donated their time. Playing 45-minute sets were Bush Pounders, Four Car Pile-Up, Warren Dane, R.A.T.L. and Dying to Live.

Nahodil said $700 was donated before the event and that the final amount will be split 50/50 between Scicchitano and Wheary.

"(Before the fire) I never even met Heather," Wheary said. "It's amazing. It's amazing."

SHAMOKIN - Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III was clear in his direction to a Sunbury man who owes $1,500 in fines for a dilapidated property the owner says he mistakenly purchased two years ago at a county judicial sale.

"I don't want your money. The city doesn't want your money. I want compliance," Gembic told Keith Musser, 59, during a 45-minute hearing Monday morning.

The judge issued that warning prior to granting Musser three months to raze and remove debris from 624 W. Mulberry St.

Musser has been fined by the city for allowing the property to become a public nuisance, but Gembic put off rendering a verdict for 30 days to see if Musser is compliant in having the building torn down as soon as possible.

If Musser complies, his fines on five citations issued by Shamokin Code Enforcement Officer Rick Bozza and Cpl. Bryan Primerano will be forgiven. Bozza and Primerano did not object to Gembic's order.

Musser, who pleaded not guilty at the outset of the hearing, said he will do his best to comply, but maintains the county shouldn't be allowed to sell properties in deplorable condition.

"There was deception, although it was not mean-spirited deception," he told the judge.

He said he understands the ramifications for the city and county in trying to deal with blighted properties. "But I still feel the county did not act in good faith in selling this property to me," he said, saying the tax sale process is flawed.

Wrong property

Musser had said previously he did not realize the property he purchased in August 2011 for approximately $1,300 had been scheduled for demolition by the city. He said it would cost him approximately $100,000 to renovate the double home and between $12,000 and $17,000 to raze it, and that he can't afford either option.

He sent a friend to the sale in his place because he had another commitment. The addresses got mixed up and, instead of the intended property, the friend bought 624 W. Mulberry St. The first time he entered it, Musser said he looked up through the second floor and into the third floor.

Musser, noting the law prohibits prospective buyers from going inside properties before they are sold, recommended having the code enforcement officer or someone from the county inspect buildings to make sure they aren't in need of major repairs. But Gembic said there's too much liability for someone who doesn't actually own a building to go inside.

'Scapegoat'

"There's no way I can get justice on this because the city has so many blighted properties," Musser said. "I feel like I'm a scapegoat."

Bozza said once the county sells a property, the city can't tear it down.

"The city doesn't want the property and certainly doesn't want to tear it down because that would set a bad precedent," he said.

Primerano said Musser purchased the property for a fair price and that the county tax claims bureau has a "buyer beware" clause on all properties available for sale.

Gembic admitted having mixed emotions because he believes Musser is a nice guy who simply made a mistake.

"You got a bad business deal. It happens to the best of us," he said. "I guess the lesson here is that you shouldn't buy something without looking at."

Musser said he's confident he can get the property demolished in the near future, but clearing the site will take more time and money, he said.

Deed dilemma

On Nov. 19, Northumberland County Commissioners Stephen Bridy and Richard Shoch rescinded a motion passed by Shoch and Commissioner Vinny Clausi at a Nov. 7 meeting that deeded the property back to the county. Clausi was away on business and did not attend last week's meeting. Bridy abstained on the original vote, claiming it set a dangerous precedent.

The rear of the home collapsed Sept. 22, bringing Shamokin Fire Bureau personnel to the scene. The third floor is completely exposed at the rear of the building; portions of the exterior wall are missing and the roof is sagging.

Jan Nestico, director of the county tax claims bureau, said her office wasn't notified that the property was scheduled for demolition and that Musser didn't bring the issue to her attention until a year after he bought it.

Bozza previously said the property was one of many blighted houses on a list as part of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, but it was never specifically scheduled for demolition.

KULPMONT - American Legion Post 231 along with the Kulpmont Veterans of Foreign Wars attended the 8:30 a.m. Mass at Holy Angels Church honoring the veterans of all wars and Ladies Auxiliary Post 231 Nov. 10. The mass was also for the intention of all living and deceased members of the Armed Forces. The Rev. Andrew Stahmer, pastor, was the celebrant.

In his homily, Stahmer recognized all attending veterans and asked them to stand up when he called through different branches of the service who served from World War II to the present. The congregation then gave them an overwhelming expression of thanks to the veterans for the service to their country.

Following Mass, all veterans and American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Post 231 and the public assembled at Roosevelt Court, Kulpmont, including all honor guards and firing squads. Commander Albert Goodlunas gave a welcome address and thanked everyone for a great turnout.

"It is with honor that we come each year to honor the names on these tablets. The men and women who gave their lives so we could have the freedom we enjoy," Goodlunas said. "We will always remember their sacrifice to them and their loved ones."

Past commander Andrew Bednarchick gave the order for the firing squad to fire three rounds. Taps was played while the honor guard and all present stood at attention and sang the national anthem.

Following the program, all were invited to the legion post home for a full breakfast.

On Veterans Day, Legion members assembled outside the post home to honor all who gave their lives, men and women from all wars. The command was given to the firing squad to prepare to fire three rounds. At the completion of the rounds, Taps was played and the veterans saluted the flag. At that time, coincidentally, a jet flew over with a huge stream coming from its tail assembly.

Goodlunas reminded members that there will be no meetings in November and December, because of the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. The next meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014.

ELYSBURG - The monthly meeting of Knights of Columbus Charles R. Slough Council 14161 was held Nov. 13 and a report was given on the following activities:

- A Beef and Brew was held Oct. 19 at the Elysburg Fire Company and was attended by 130 people.

- The 13 Week Club Party was held Oct. 27 in the church hall and was attended by 250 people.

- The holiday ravioli sale was extremely successful.

- A monetary gift will be presented to the Rev. Al Sceski, pastor of Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Church, from the profits of the above fundraisers.

- Council celebrated its 7th anniversary at 5 p.m. Mass Nov. 2 at the church. Rev. Al had the Mass and members served as lector, eucharistic ministers, ushers and altar servers.

- The veterans breakfast was held Nov. 16 in the Father Charles R. Slough Knights of Columbus Hall.

Future activities were discussed and plans were made to make them successful.

- Weather permitting, decorating at the church and in Elysburg Community Park will take place after Thanksgiving to display council's Nativity scene for the holidays.

- The Fourth annual children's Christmas Party will be held in the Church social hall from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8.

- The Knights' annual Christmas party will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, in the Father Charles R. Slough Knights of Columbus Hall.

- Several knights and their families will travel to Washington, D.C. Wednesday Jan. 22 to join in the "March for Life."

- The council is also making plans for the annual Knights of Columbus free throw contest in January for young people.

The next 13 Week Club will begin in February and the party will be April 27. Tickets are now available.

MOUNT CARMEL - Magisterial District Judge Hugh Jones has recused himself from hearing the case of Kulpmont Borough Council President Bruno Varano, prompting a one-week delay for the councilman's preliminary hearing.

Varano, 60, of 34 S. 10th St., Kulpmont, was charged Oct. 2 with disorderly conduct and "unlawful acts relative to liquor, malt and brewed beverages" by a state police liquor control enforcement officer in response to an early morning incident this summer at the Jan Sobieski Club, 10th and Scott streets.

When the charges were filed, a preliminary hearing was scheduled for Monday, but Jones disqualified himself Nov. 7. The hearing will be held before District Judge John Gembic III, Shamokin, Tuesday, Dec. 3.

Jones said Monday his recusal was to eliminate any doubt that Varano's hearing would be conducted fairly.

"Mr. Varano is the chief executive officer for a municipality in my district," he said. "No matter which way the case goes, I didn't think it was appropriate for me to hear it because I didn't want to open up any cause for someone to think there was favoritism."

He said the county court administrator determines the reassignment.

Varano was charged by LCE officer Janelle M. Wilt. She was working undercover as a patron inside the Kulpmont social club at approximately 2 a.m. Aug. 3, when she allegedly observed a bartender, Cody Shustack, 20, of Kulpmont, take a drink from a bottle of Dr. McGillcuddy's liquor while he was tending bar. Wilt left the establishment and came back 30 minutes later with four Kulpmont police officers and attempted to gain entry after the doors were locked, she said.

When Varano, the board-approved manager of the club, opened the door after Wilt identified herself as an officer, he allegedly said to Wilt, "You ever been shot?"

Varano then attempted to block Wilt's access to the club and argued with Wilt when she explained the underage drinking violation, charges state.

"He's allowed, he's tending bar!" Varano allegedly yelled at the officer.

On two occasions, Varano had to be moved away from Wilt, according to police. He had to be taken from the premises for alleged belligerent conduct, police said.

Shustack was charged with underage drinking, drinking while tending bar and escape. Because his case is directly related to Varano's, Jones also recused himself from that matter. Gembic will hear Shustack's preliminary hearing next week also.

"As you prepare your Thanksgiving dinner, it is important to remember some key food-safety rules when it comes to cooking and serving turkey," said Martin Bucknavage, extension food-safety specialist. "We don't want to spread pathogenic bacteria, such as Salmonella and Campylobacter."

He offers some advice to keep cooks, helpers and guests safe when preparing a turkey:

There is no need to wash the outside of your turkey

Proper cooking will take care of any pathogenic bacteria that may be present.

"The only thing you will achieve by washing the outside of the turkey is spreading bacteria in your kitchen. This can occur as the water splashes or drips across your kitchen counter, potentially carrying bacteria with it," Bucknavage said.

Clean as you go when handling raw turkey

"As people move the raw turkey around in the kitchen, they treat it more like a football than a raw piece of meat, in that it touches a lot of surfaces including the hands," he said. "Because of this, there is the potential to get pathogenic bacteria on our hands, on the counter and on the cutting board. Therefore, clean these surfaces immediately after coming in contact with the raw bird."

Cook it to the right temperature

UDSA suggests that the bird gets to at least 165 F, (best if over 172 F for chewing). So Bucknavage recommends the use of a thermometer to monitor the temperature.

"Check the temperature of the bird in a number of spots, including the breast meat and the thickest part of the thigh," he said. "Allow time for further cooking if the temperature is not met."

Cook your stuffing separately

If you stuff the bird, the temperature of the stuffing must also get to 165 F.

"In order to get the stuffing to the right temperature, the bird will reach much higher temperatures, often over 185 F, making it very dry. Too often, people will stop cooking once the bird is at the right temperature, but unfortunately, they end up having undercooked stuffing," Bucknavage said.

"Because this stuffing was inside the raw bird, it absorbed turkey juice potentially carrying pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella and Campylobacter. Undercooking the stuffing lets those bacteria survive. It is much better, and safer, to cook them separately. You will get the right temperature in the turkey without having to overcook it, and you'll get the right temperature in the stuffing."

If you want the look of a stuffed turkey on your table, stuff it before serving, after both have been properly cooked, he advised.

Handle leftovers immediately after dinner

Do not allow the turkey to sit on the table for hours after everyone is done eating.

"Bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus can grow on meat items if left out for a long period of time," Bucknavage said. "To prevent that from occurring, it is important to handle leftovers right away. Cut up the turkey, put it in a container or sealable bag, and then refrigerate or freeze."