TimesLeader.com

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Statewide grand jury eyes Pennsylvania’s casino licensing

HARRISBURG -- A statewide grand jury in Pittsburgh is investigating whether casino licenses in 2006 were steered to some applicants, but the former chairman of the Gaming Control Board on Tuesday called the inquiry “a total waste of taxpayers’ money.”

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

What a dump?

A new bar and restaurant is coming to Scranton and the owners hope the patrons will be calling it “a dump,” as it's name will be “The City Dump.”

Proposed job cuts, parking fees trump discussion at Scranton city council meeting

SCRANTON – Job reductions and proposed increased parking meter fees and fines in the city’s drafted $77 million 2010 budget came under fire at city council’s meeting Tuesday night.

VIDEO: TL interview with Gov. Ed Rendell

Governor Ed Rendell discusses his three-point plan for state reform with the Times Leader staff.

Eckley facing winter closing

FOSTER TWP. – The lights at the Eckley Miners Village historical coal mining town will be going dim at least through the winter because of severe state budget cuts.

Medicare opens enrollment

Dalton police acquire SUV via grant

Council members learned at the Thursday, Nov. 19, meeting that this winter, Dalton Borough Police will be driving a new $38,000 SUV, thanks to a grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

Extra! Extra!

DALTON - Pizza lovers in Dalton, no longer need to travel to Scranton or Clarks Summit to visit a pizza restaurant. Opened on Oct. 28 in the building on the corner of Main Street in downtown Dalton, Newsies Pizza, is owned and operated by Tony Warenzak and his wife Miriam, who both grew up in Dalton. They said they opened Newsies Pizza at 105 E. Main St. because they wanted a family-friendly place for the Dalton community to eat and hang out together.

For two Saab dealers, it’s the end of the road

KUNKLE – For 52 years new Saabs have been sold in this Dallas Township village. But by year’s end that will no longer be the case. Kunkle Motors has been informed that it will be one of 81 Saab dealers in the United States that will have its dealership rights terminated once the company is sold to Swedish carmaker Koenigsegg. General Motors, which has overseen Saab, filed for bankruptcy in June and put the Saab brand up for sale. GM notified the terminated dealerships of the decision last week.

Sharing a doctor’s wisdom Parenthood, Abington Style with Adriane Heine

We all hit little roadblocks along the way on our parenting journey. These are times when the common sense we depend on fails us, and we are unsure of which direction to go.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Two area Saab dealers lose dealership rights

KUNKLE – For 52 years new Saabs have been sold in this Dallas Township village. But by year’s end that will no longer be the case. Kunkle Motors has been informed that it will be one of 81 Saab dealers in the United States that will have its dealership rights terminated once the company is sold to Swedish carmaker Koenigsegg.

New restaurants set to open in Abington area

While the Abingtons may already be noted as a place for culinary adventures, local residents and visitors will soon have two new options for their dining enjoyment.

Medicare changes to be topic of presentation at Clarks Summit Senior Living

Rhondi Nachlis, Muskey Financial Services will provide educational information about the changes in Medicare coverage. The program is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 24 at 2 p.m. at Clarks Summit Senior Living, 950 Morgan Hwy, Clarks Summit.

WVIA’s State of Pennsylvania presents NEPA’s Newspapers

WVIA President Bill Kelly welcomes local newspaper publishers to discuss the state of newspapers on the next State of Pennsylvania Thursday, Nov 19 at 7 p.m. on WVIA-TV.

Voluntary Action Center to benefit from Happy Hour tonight at Bistocchi's

A Happy Hour at Bistocchi’s Restaurant tonight, Monday, Nov. 16, will benefit the Christmas Holiday Bureau, a program of the Voluntary Action Center.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Area Blockbuster closing in January

Blockbuster at 405 S. Main St., Old Forge, one of 810 to 960 stores being evaluated by the company nationwide, is scheduled to close Jan. 10.

French, Mediterranean flavors fuse at new Scranton eatery

If his mother hadn’t agreed to host an exchange student years ago in Maryland, Gene Litz might never have met his French friend, visited Paris and Provence and developed a love for cooking.

Mercy, Tyler plan merger

TUNKHANNOCK TWP. – Faced with the potential that Wyoming County’s only hospital could scale back services or even close, Tyler Memorial Hospital officials reached out for a lifeline.

County OKs sale of nursing home

SCRANTON – Lackawanna County commissioners on Wednesday approved a letter of intent to sell the Lackawanna County Health Care Center to Miami-based Millennium Management LLC for $13.4 million.

Hark, hear the bells

As the holiday season approaches, shoppers to area stores will find all sorts of holiday decorations, including wreaths, twinkling lights, and be greeted by the sounds of the season, which will also soon include the peal of bells during the Salvation Army’s annual Red Kettle fund-raising campaign.

community events

CARBONDALE – The seventh annual Pioneer City Christmas Ball will be held Friday, Dec. 4, at Heart Lake Lodge. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be featured at 6 p.m. followed by a buffet dinner at 7 p.m. and an open bar and live entertainment from 8 to 11 p.m. For ticket sales and sponsorship information, contact Brian Durkin at 499-5445 or bpd@echeos.net; Carbondale Mayor Justin Taylor, 499-0958 or mayorjt@icontech.com; or Bill Farber Jr., 262-5853 or billf@qualityperf.com. There will also be $10,000 in cash prizes awarded with a top prize of $2,500. All proceeds benefit the Greater Carbondale YMCA, Anthracite Discovery Heritage Center, The Maxis Foundation, and Friends of the Forgotten.

Halloween party at McDade Park proved a real treat for area children

The ninth annual O’Malley free Halloween Party was recently held at McDade Park, Scranton. Children from throughout Lackawanna County participated and were offered free food, candy and entertainment. The children also received free keepsake photographs of themselves posing with the “Wicked Witch of the West,” “Glenda the Good Witch,” and “Dorothy” from “The Wizard of Oz.”

Naturalist will speak at Audubon Society meeting

Bob Daniels, president of the Lower Tunkhannock Creek Watershed Association, stands near a display at the Pittston Riverfront Park on the banks of the Susquehanna River. He will present a power point program, “Checking the Creek, Restoring its Nature,” on Nov. 15 at 2:30 p.m. at the Lackawanna Audubon Society meeting at the Anthracite Heritage Museum, McDade Park, Scranton. His presentation will highlight how high water, excessive runoff, erosion and sedimentation are causing property damage, loss of acreage and water contamination in area streams. The program is free and open to the public.

Red Cross blood donors can win a shopping spree

The American Red Cross Blood Services Northeast Pennsylvania Region announces that during November, donors at Red Cross blood drives will be eligible to win a weekly raffle for a $200 grocery shopping spree.

Back to the books

SCRANTON – Scranton council is considering organizing a library authority.

Photo contest open

The Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority invites amateur and professional photographers to help tell the story of the Lackawanna Valley. Photographers are welcome to submit images to the inaugural “Views from the Valley” photo contest.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

State schedules local H1N1 vaccine clinics

KINGSTON -- The state Department of Health announced Friday that 18 H1N1 free vaccine clinics will be held across the state, including one at the Kingston Armory.

Friday, November 13, 2009

• Timmy’s Town Center museum opens in Scranton

• First Night Scranton sponsoring Celebrity Bartender fundraiser Wednesday

• Lackawanna County receiving more than $1 million in stimulus funds

• New Corporate center’s first tenant breaks ground

• 10 charged in Pa. legislative probe

Thursday, November 12, 2009

• Lackawanna County commissioners approve nursing home sale

• County election board orders all-vote recount

• A new name for area’s old favorite

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

• Veterans honored in Scranton ceremony

• Quandel Group selected to renovate Schuylkill County domestic violence center

• Doherty will run for governor

• Geisinger Health joins CHIP

• Tyler Hospital gets a new lease on life

• Scouts to host breakfast Nov. 14

• ACOG opposes PPL project

• Rotary Club of the Abingtons With Leah Ducato Rudolph

• Soldiers recall service

• ‘A Day at a Time’ set for Nov. 17

• Abington Township addresses dog issue

• Clarks Green Council removes refuse pickup tax

• SAPA reviews public comments

• Ready to help

• McDonald’s serves up fundraiser

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

• Mayor Doherty announces gubernatorial run

• Mercy Health Partners and Tyler Memorial announce merger

Monday, November 9, 2009

• State grant will help Lackawanna County businesses reduce energy costs

• WBRE to produce 10 p.m. news for Fox 56

• WVIA’s presenting NEPA’s Obese Children: What Can We Do?

• Timmy’s Town Center Museum in Scranton opens Nov. 13

• Clubs, casinos at odds over games

Sunday, November 8, 2009

• New Ace Hardware store opens in Old Forge, at former site of Eckerd’s

• PBA honors Robert Gownley for 50 years’ service

• Event teaches fire safety

• Events in November promote pancreatic cancer awareness

• State Pro-Life Conference hosted in Scranton

• New scrap metal yard coming to Scranton

• Warholic Memorial Scholarship Dinner planned

• Bisignani-Moyle elected to new judge position

• Villa Capri Cruisers lend hand to four-legged friends at Griffin Pond shelter

• community events

• Kids Klothes Line clothing drive set for Saturday

• Guitar Center holding food drive in November

• Red Cross schedules blood drives

• High tea, formal wear dress auction set for Saturday in Dunmore

• Dems sweep Scranton council race

• Scranton School District will administer H1N1 vaccines Nov. 14

• Mail for Heroes

• Friends of Poor kick off annual holiday program

• AH students raise money for diabetes research

• Career Technology Center students, Dente Catering serve UNICO

• Entrepreneurs face off for funding in ‘Venture Idol’