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Suddenly, Trinity’s grandmother suffered an asthma attack brought on by bronchitis. Though she suffers from asthma, the 51-year-old Eddy had never experienced an attack as severe as this one, which made breathing so difficult she struggled to make a desperate appeal to the only person who could help. “I said, ‘Trinity, I can’t breathe,’ ” Eddy recalled. “She took it over from there.” Trinity answered all of the 9-1-1 operator’s questions, allowing paramedics to locate her grandmother and respond swiftly. “She made the call and stayed on with them the whole time,” Eddy said. Though she never lost consciousness, Eddy needed emergency treatment from paramedics before she was transported to Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, said Guido, who described the importance of Trinity’s action in no uncertain terms. “I talked to the medics on duty,” he said. “They said, no doubt, she had difficulty breathing; she would have died.”
body tells you they like to raise money, they’re lying,” Holden said. “Public financing would be the answer, but that will never happen.”
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teach viewers how to better their lives. Some viewers, such as Louise Smith, 91, a native of Nanticoke and now a resident of St. Luke’s Villa, Wilkes-Barre, welcome the change. Since 1968, Smith has watched all but the first episode of “OLTL,” which was created by the famed Agnes Nixon. “I loved that show and I’m sad to see it go, but I will watch ‘The Revolution.’ No matter how old we are it’s always good to learn something new. You have to welcome change,” said Smith. Others, however, weren’t as open to the idea. Dolores Brown, 80, of Kingston, who said she has watched every episode of “OLTL” in its four-decade-plus run, was one of those people. “The other senior citizens and I aren’t interested in watching ‘The Revolution.’ At 80 years old, I’m not interested in changing my life; I’m happy with my life. I refuse to watch that or any other ABC show besides ‘General Hospital,’ ” said Brown. Denise McMann, 46, of Orlando, Fla., is involved with the Save Our Soap Movement and a mem-
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will think deeply about the messages you have provided me,” Erickson said in his closing remarks. “I have listened well. I listen and I learn. I hope you all keep that faith that we will move forward.” The school has yet to start making plans on how to honor Paterno, Erickson said earlier, though he promised again that a tribute was coming. The perceived lack of communication by trustees in the two
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new finance officer, McLaughlin could not immediately provide cost savings over last year. But Hazleton City Administrator Mary Ellen Lieb could. Hazleton spent $8,127 for snow and ice materials in the last quarter of 2011 versus $16,000 in the last quarter of 2010, she said. And, Hazleton saved18 percent on heating costs in that same time frame, paying $2,334 less in the last quarter of 2011 than in 2010, when heat cost $12,420. Streets Department Foreman Frank Vito said the city paid snow-removal contractors $100,000 in 2010, but nothing in 2011 because although it snowed a lot in early 2011, storms only dumped 3 to 4 inches at a time. Add up all the savings and that means more money for paving streets in 2012, Lieb said. For smaller municipalities, a mild winter can amount to rela-
PETE G. WILCOX/THE TIMES LEADER
Kingston Fire Chief Frank Guido proclaims Friday ‘Trinity Shaver Day’ at Pringle Street Elementary in Kingston. Trinity is credited with saving the life of her grandmother Helen Eddy (standing next to Guido), by calling 911 when her grandmother had an acute respiratory attack. Looking on are Trinity (holding proclamation) and her mom, Barbara.
Guido also said Trinity’s action demonstrates the effectiveness of the educational outreach efforts of the municipal fire department, which sends firefighters to speak to elementary school classes and annually invites each school to use a fire safety simulator that teaches kids how to escape a house fire. “That’s our whole thing: 9-1-1; know your name; know your
“I liked watching the show because I knew that the characters’ lives were always worse than mine, and they dealt with many issues that we see in our society.”
emergency; know your location,” Guido said. “And it worked.” A light-board sign on the firehouse informed passers-by of Trinity’s accomplishment Friday, and a sign made by her classmates hanging in the entryway of the school declared “Trinity, our hero,” but the 6-year-old said she was just happy to help her grandmother.
How does it feel to know she saved a life? “Good,” she said. Crisis averted, she’s returned to her quiet self. But her classmates recognize what she did. “Good job, Trinity,” a wee one piped up after the class showered her with a round of applause. Good job indeed.
A real-life soap opera
ber of the Facebook group SWAN (Standing With Agnes Nixon). McMann took offense at advertisements promoting “The Revolution” during the “OLTL” tribute show on “The View” and Friday’s final episode. She labeled it as “sickening.” “How could they have a tribute to ‘OLTL’ and advertise the show that is taking its place? That’s ridiculous,” said McMann. Many people feel lost and are unsure how to fill the void that “OLTL” has left in their daily routines. Jennifer Tershak, 38, of Mountain Top, said she has hope after hearing some of her favorite characters will be moving to “GH.” “I hope that ‘OLTL’ fans will
The soap opera “One Life to Live” debuted on the ABC television network on July 15, 1968. Created by Agnes Nixon, the series was the first daytime drama to have a plot line that emphasized social issues and included racially and socio-economically diverse characters. “OLTL” introduced Polish, Jewish and African-American characters, and it is credited with having the first interracial relationship on daytime television. The show was popular and was expanded from 30 minutes to 45 minutes on July 26, 1976, and then to a full hour on Jan. 13, 1978. The series won an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series in 2002.
The show focused on the members and relationships of the Lord family. Actress Erika Slezak has portrayed original and central heroine Victoria “Viki” Lord since March 1971 and has won a record six Daytime Emmy Awards for the role. On April 14, 2011, ABC announced that it planned to cancel the series. On July 7, production company Prospect Park announced that it would continue the show as a web series after its run on ABC, but later suspended the project due to numerous complications. The final scenes of “One Life to Live” were taped on Nov.18 and it aired Friday. ABC is replacing the soap opera with health and lifestyle show, “The Revolution.”
tune in to ‘GH’ so we can continue to keep at least one ABC soap alive,” said Tershak. Price recalled taping “OLTL” for 25 years to watch when she got home from work. “Now that the show is canceled, I’ll have nothing to watch when I get off of work. I will not
be taping ‘The Revolution,’ but I will watch ‘GH’ as long as the ‘OLTL’ characters are still on the show.” “My mother watched it, I’ve watched it and my kids were raised on it,” Vrabel said. “I have no idea what to do from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. anymore.”
months since Paterno’s firing Nov. 9 has roiled many graduates. “Honestly, I feel like I was given the company line,” Virginia Alvarez, a lawyer from the Class of 1997 who asked the question about due process, said afterward. “I don’t feel like we have the answers. I think the people who need to call into question are the Board of Trustees. Show us the minutes of those meetings.” Erickson emphasized that the trustees are his bosses, and not the other way around. Appointed president after the scandal also cost Graham Span-
ier his job, Erickson plans to retire in 2014. He reiterated that he supported the trustees’ decision to fire Paterno. “There comes a time to look at more than legal issues and look at the ability to lead, and I think at that point ability to lead was compromised,” he said. “That in no way should reflect my feelings about the wonderful things Joe has contributed over the years.” Erickson offered his best wishes to Paterno, saying he was “very sad” to hear the Hall of Famer was readmitted to the hospital Friday with complications from his treatment for lung cancer.
The 67-year-old Sandusky is charged with sexually abusing 10 boys over a 15-year period. He maintains his innocence. A charity he founded, The Second Mile, through which he met many of his alleged victims, said Friday it was selling a 60-acre property where it had been building an educational center. Two Penn State administrators are facing charges they lied to a grand jury investigating Sandusky and failed to properly report suspected child abuse. Gary Schultz, a former vice president, and Tim Curley, the athletic director, have denied the allegations and await trial.
Wendy Price Dallas
tively huge savings. Dallas Township Secretary Nancy Balutis said the township paid its road crew $517 in overtime this past December compared to $10,460 in overtime in December 2010. And the township’s December heating bill dropped from $1,028 in 2010 to $637 in 2011. “Hopefully, we’ll be saving more (in January),” Balutis said. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation also saved a huge chunk of change this winter. Last winter, the state spent $55.3 million on snow and ice removal through Dec. 31, 2010. This winter, PennDOT spent 32 percent less, a mere $37.8 million, said spokesman Jim Struzzi. “Any savings rolls into additional miles of road improvements. Likewise, if winter throws us some heavy blows, we’ll use funds from our spring road maintenance to cover it,” Struzzi said. “Obviously, we are reaping some savings this year, but it’s important to note we still have two months to go.”
By ANDREA BROOKMAN Times Leader Intern
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to the equation and running is different for us,” said Margolies. It’s not better or worse, just “a difference we bring to the table,” added Margolies, who also is head of the advocacy training organization Women’s Campaign International. The school acknowledged it stood with the bishop in oppositiontoherviewsonabortion,but welcomed her and the expertise she brings to the conference. “Speakers for this University event are experts chosen to provide women with information about the challenges of politics; they are not chosen to engage in a discussion of abortion. By inviting these speakers to campus, the University is not endorsing their personal views,” said Quinn in a prepared statement. Bambera supported the purpose of the conference, but opposed having Margolies participate at
it.
“Although a forum such as this, designed to support and encourage women to engage in public service, is by its nature good and noble, for a Catholic institution in the Diocese of Scranton to invite a pro-abortion advocate to speak at a University sponsored event is dismaying and personally disheartening to me,” he said in a prepared statement. At least one protest was planned against Margolies. Jim Burke, a local entrepreneur who described himself as an orthodox Catholic and member of The Cardinal Newman Society, whose mission is to renew and strengthen Catholic identity in Catholic higher education, said he felt called to action. “She may have trouble getting through into the building. I intend to have hundreds of pickets there, declaring The University of Scranton for what it is – secular, not Catholic,” said Burke. Staff writer Mary Therese Biebel contributed to this report.
Ties with Sen. Casey Holden, whose father played baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1930s and also did a stint with the Wilkes-Barre Barons, said his family and the Casey family of Scranton have been friends since 1966. “Sen. (Bob) Casey is a dear friend,” Holden said. “He’s told me he will help me in this campaign.” Casey is running for his second 6-year term in the U.S. Senate this year. Holden’s district has about 707,000 residents – 75 percent of them live in areas new to the 17th District. But Holden isn’t worried that voters may see him as an outsider. “I’m from Schuylkill County, and we consider ourselves part of Northeastern Pennsylvania,” Holden said. “We are in the same media market. I’m the proud son of the coal region.” When asked whether residents in Scranton would feel the same way, he responded: “I guess we’ll find out.” Holden is the dean of the Pennsylvania delegation in Congress. He sits on two House committees: he is second in seniority among Democrats on the House Agriculture Committee and eighth on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Barletta, R-Hazleton, also sits on that committee. Holden doesn’t expect much to get done in Congress during this presidential election year. All 435 House members are up for reelection, but Holden doesn’t expect the Democrats to wrest the majority back from the GOP. Holden said the $230 billion Highway Bill needs to be passed by March 31, but he’s not optimistic. He said the measure, if ap-
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Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Plains Township, said he recently has seen more people coming into the emergency room suffering the effects of bath salts. “We have definitely seen a surge in the numbers in the Saylor last week or two,” Saylor said. “Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve had a few each week, but it wasn’t as bad as when bath salts were on the shelf.” Dr. Keith G. Vrabeck, a Geisinger emergency physician, testified at a court hearing in April that more than 100 people had been treated in the ER in the first four months of 2011. An undercover narcotics officer said bath salts are being sold on the street for $100 for a halfgram. The same amount was selling for $35 to $40 when the synthetic substance was legally sold in early 2011. Traditional salts used for bathing sell for about $2 a container. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the active ingredient in synthetic
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tration and the Department of Defense to make sure that everyone is providing the best care available. In addition, and on a local level, The Commonwealth Medical College will work with the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Plains Township, said Ida L. Castro, vice president of community engagement and equity at TCMC. Castro said the college currently assigns each student to a family in the region for their four years of training so they can learn what a family goes through during extended medical treatment. She hopes more students
proved, could inject $10 billion into Pennsylvania’s highway system. Holden said Republican House Speaker John Boehner operates the same way Democratic leader Pelosi did – he won’t bring anything to the floor unless there is agreement of the majority of GOP members. He said the GOP also won’t support earmarks – something Holden said is helpful in directing federal funding for needed state projects. “Ruling from the extreme is never good for the American people,” he said. Other issues • Holden said Democrats were not part of the redistricting discussions. He said Republican Barletta wanted to keep all of Luzerne County in the 11th District, but Holden ended up with it. Because of gerrymandering, he said he has to drive through other congressional districts to get to parts of the new 17th district. “I didn’t know I was getting Luzerne County until 10 days before the vote. I also got Easton – nobody saw that coming,” he said. • On President Obama, Holden said he inherited the “worst fiscal situation since the Great Depression.” “(Obama) should have focused on the economy,” Holden said. • Holden voted for the economic stimulus bill and against the health care bill, saying it should have been presented incrementally rather than as an allat-once measure. • He supports maintaining Medicare and Social Security. “The burden of balancing the budget shouldn’t be placed on the backs of senior citizens,” he said. Medicare is a more challenging dilemma due to the constant rise in health care costs, he said. • Holden currently has four district offices and if funding isn’t cut, he will keep four offices, but he wouldn’t say where, if re-elected, he would locate them. As far as his job is concerned, Holden said he will work hard for all of his constituents. “I’ll be accessible,” he said. “I’ll be visible and open-minded.” bath salts – MDPV – is related to ecstasy and another ingredient, Methadrone, is a stimulant similar to methamphetamine. Saylor said adverse effects of bath salts include extreme paranoia, hallucinations, rapid heart rate, disorientation and suicidal thoughts. “People take it to get high,” Saylor said. “It’s a stimulant, and it’s addictive. It causes very intense paranoia, they get intense delusions, and due to those, we’re seeing suicidal attempts from the extreme paranoia.” Bath salts are known by a variety of names, including red dove, cloud nine, white lightning, purple wave and vanilla sky. “Bath salts causes extreme heart rates and blood pressure fluctuations and temperatures,” Saylor said. “That could be extremely life threatening.” He said there have been no reported deaths locally due to bath salts, noting two people in Louisiana under the influence of bath salts took their own lives recently. On Monday, the Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation charged Bridgette F. Campbell, 25, of White Haven, with selling a substance she purported to be methamphetamine but was chemically tested to be MDPV, which was banned last year. will be assigned to military families through the medical center. Castro believes students and faculty will “benefit from the expertise” of VA doctors and staff, and the school will conduct continuing education courses for area medical professionals that focus on the needs of veterans and those in military service. The college also will enhance its current curriculum to include training in the “unique clinical challenges and best practices” of working with military patients and their families, she said. “We recognize that this region has an enormous number of heroes that have given so much for us and we’re very pleased to join the (other schools) in partnering with the First Lady and Dr. Biden on this endeavor,” Castro said.