TimesLeader.com

November 8

Three incumbents knocked out in Old Forge

Council chairman and former school board president upset in re-election bids

By Rick Notari rnotari@psdispatch.com
Pittston Sunday Dispatch Staff Writer

Garlic wasn’t the only smell that was in the air in the Pizza Capital on Tuesday night.

The smell of change was in the air, and it came with a heavy hand as three Old Forge incumbents were upset in their bid for re-election in council and school board races.

Democratic council members Mike Bartoletti and Russell Rinaldi were both voted out of office after just one term. Bartoletti was council chairman. The duo finished fourth and fifth in the six-person race for three spots behind running mate Brian Rinaldi and republicans Bobby Giacometti and incumbent councilman Tony Pero.

Brian Rinaldi, a Democrat, was the high vote-getter with 1,553 votes. He won three of the borough’s seven wards, capturing the second, fourth and fifth wards. He also finished second in the third ward and third in six-one and six-two.

Giacometti, a Republican and first-time candidate, was second with 1,519 votes and also won three wards, winning in the first, third and six-one wards. The Old Forge elementary teacher finished second in the fourth ward and in six-two.

Pero, a Republican and previous council chairman, earned his sixth term as a council member with 1,493 votes. He won ward six-two, but finished second in wards one, five and six-one. He begins his 20th year as a borough councilman next month.

Bartoletti garnered 1,380 votes and Russell Rinaldi earned 1,340. Bartoletti was the top vote-getter in the second ward, and finished third in the first, third and fourth wards, but couldn’t overcome huge deficits in the fifth and both sixth wards.

Republican Ralph Breymeier finished a distant sixth with 799 votes.

In the school board race which featured just five candidates for four spots, it was eight-year member Frank Scavo who was unseated in his attempt for re-election. Scavo was the one Republican that lost in the heavily Democratic borough, trailing Democratic winner Kathy Stocki by 89 votes when the unofficial votes were tallied.

Stocki and Scavo was the featured race for school board as winners Chris Jones, MaryGrace Mailen and Eugene Talerico won nominations on both tickets in the spring primary.

Jones was the top vote-getter among school board members with 1,861 votes, while Mailen earned 1,780 votes.

Talerico garnered 1,659 votes with Stocki earning 1,603 and Scavo 1,514.

Borough voters did retain three incumbents for Mayor, Controller and Tax Collector.

Mayor Michele Petrini Avvisato, a Democrat, won re-election by more than 650 votes over Republican challenger Ralph Chase, Jr. The first female mayor in Old Forge garnered 1,762 votes while Chase earned 1,091.

Democrat Chris Thomas won re-election with 1,485 votes to Republican challenger Robert Pagnotti’s 1,164 votes.

Gary Propersi, a Republican, earned the most votes of any candidate in the election, with 1,967, in his re-election to Tax Collector. He outdistanced Democratic challenger Mike Zupon who earned 780 votes.

Coal Miners Sought

The Old Forge Coal Mining website, www.oldforgecoalmine.com, is seeking information on former coal miners who worked in the Old Forge mines.

If you are a descendent or relative of a coal miner, or someone who worked in and around the mines, and passed away from January 2009 to the present please contact Carl Orechovsky at 451-0566 or info@oldforgecoalmine.com to have their name added on our memorial.

Miss Devilette Search

The Old Forge School District 100th Anniversary Committee is seeking the names of every student that served as Miss Devilette during the school’s history. It is believed the first Miss Devilette was named in 1949.

The majority of names have been found, but the committee is still seeking Miss Devilettes from 1950 to 1958, and for 1960. Anyone with information can contact the Superintendent’s Office at 457-6721.

Valedictorian Search

The Old Forge School District 100th Anniversary Committee is seeking the names of every student that has earned the honor of Valedictorian during the school’s history. The first graduation class was in 1910. Anyone with information regarding the school valedictorians can contact the Principal’s Office at 457-6721.

Donors Sought

The Old Forge School District 100th Anniversary Committee is seeking donors for 100th Anniversary banners that will be placed on telephone poles throughout the borough. Design of the banners is still in the planning stages but will feature the donor’s name. For more information or to make a donation, contact High School Principal Chris Thomas at 457-6721.

St. Michael’s Pierogis

St. Michael’s Russian Orthodox Church will hold a pierogi sale on November 10 with pickup from 2-5 p.m.

The cost is $5 per dozen. Orders need to be placed by Nov. 6 and can be placed by calling 562-3965; 586-2632; 457-9280 or 457-2875.

OFSD Calendar

Nicole VanLuvender, Old Forge Elementary Principal, and Christopher C. Thomas, Old Forge High School Principal, have announced the following information regarding the Old Forge School District’s November Calendar.

The end of the first marking period was Nov. 5 with report cards set to be distributed on Nov. 18.

There will also be a half day of school on Nov. 18 with dismissal beginning at 11 a.m. in the high school and 11:20 a.m. in the elementary.

Parent-teacher conferences will be held on Thurs., Nov. 19 and Fri., Nov. 20 from 1-3:30 p.m. in the elementary and 12:30-3 p.m. in the high school. Students will be dismissed on both days at 11:20 a.m. in the elementary and 11:30 a.m. in the high school. Title I Parent-Teacher conferences will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the Elementary Cafeteria on Nov. 19.

After school tutoring is cancelled for Nov. 19 due to parent-teacher conferences.

There will be no school on Wed., Nov. 11 in remembrance of Veterans’ Day and from Nov. 26-30 for Thanksgiving Break.