CONTINUING: THE WEATHERLY HERALD ESTABLISHED 1880–145th YEAR, NO. 44
CUBS GIVE BOROUGH BIRD HOUSES: Cub Scout Pack 007 of Weatherly attended the borough council meeting on Monday, March 25, to present a gift of bird houses for Eurana Park. The boxes are designed for wrens and other small birds. The boys, who are all in 5th grade and their last year of Cub Scouts, built the boxes as part of their Arrow of Light project, after a visit to the Carbon County Environmental Education Center. They used a woodburner to engrave the Arrow of Light symbol on the front of each bird house, as shown at right. Shown from left are Pack leader Jason Croman, Conner Troell, Nick Rivera, Nando Posser, Tucker Gilbert, Jack Croman, and Luke Dion.
JH: Ruth Isenberg
East Side halves sewage treatment fee increase for borough residents
by Ruth Isenberg
East Side Borough Council voted to absorb half of the increased charge for sewage treatment for this year. The Public Utility Commission approved Aqua Pennsylvania’s request for an increase of $51.15 per quarter in February, so the cost to the borough for each EDU will rise from $87 per quarter to $138.15 per quarter. At the March 6 council meeting, council members discussed whether the increase should be passed along to the
users in full. Letters about the increase were supposed to have been sent out by Aqua, but not everyone present at the meeting believed they had received a letter. The current charge to users in $152 per quarter; adding $51.15 to that would bring it up to $203. “That’s a huge increase,” said council member Louis Esa.
After discussion, council decided to use money in the operations and maintenance fund to offset some of the cost this year. The borough will absorb half the increase, making
the charge $177 per EDU, at least for now. There are 148 EDUs in the borough.
In other business, council:
• adopted a resolution supporting America 250 PA, the semi-sesquicentennial of the United States of America, in 2026.
•opened an account with Mauch Chunk Trust for the recreation grant the borough has been awarded.
•appointed Sandra Cepiel to the Zoning Hearing Board. She had been the alternate, so an alternate is now needed.
Contests few for primary
by Ruth Isenberg
According to the unofficial lists of candidates in Carbon and Luzerne Counties, there are only a few contests that will be contested in the May 20 primary election. Unless there are write-ins, there are some positions for which there will be not only no contest in November, but potentially no candidates at all.
Here is the unofficial list of local candidates, compiled from the Election Bureau websites.
CARBON COUNTY
East Side Borough
Mayor (1 to be elected)Council (4 to be elected)Sharon Mrozinski, R
Tax Collector-Lisa Jones, R Kidder Township
Supervisor (1 to be elected)Ellwood Zimmerman, R; Daniel Collins, D
Tax Collector-Kim Gianopolis, D
Lausanne Township
Supervisor (1 to be elected)Edward Klynowsky-R Tax Collector-Melanie J. Zacharias-R
Lehigh Township
Supervisor (1 to be elected)Tax Collector-Teresa M. Barna, R Packer Township
Supervisor (1 to be elected)Robert Selert, R
Tax Collector-Valerie Kane, R
See CANDIDATES, page 5
THE JOURNAL-HERALD
(USPS 277-440) Published weekly at 211 Main Street, White Haven, PA 18661
Telephone (570) 215-0204
Subscription Price—$40 per year in Luzerne & Carbon Counties, Pennsylvania, payable in advance. $45 per year elsewhere, payable in advance.
Periodicals postage paid at White Haven, PA 18661. POSTMASTER, send address changes to: THE JOURNAL-HERALD
211 Main Street, White Haven, PA 18661
(JAY E. HOLDER, Co-Publisher 1954-1997; CLARA HOLDER, Co-Publisher 1954-2014)
Seth Isenberg, Advertising Sales
Ruth Isenberg, Editor
Steve Stallone, Sports Editor
Member, Greater White Haven Chamber of Commerce Carbon County Chamber of Commerce
Every year, as the snow melts, one thing becomes obvious litter. Travel any roadway in the area, and you will see bottles, cans, fast food bags and wrappers, tires and much more along the berms. Litter is everywhere, so prevalent we don’t even notice it much of the time.
Visitors to the area do, though. Trashy roadways are not a good welcome to our area. Our towns see many visitors throughout the season, some in cars and some on buses as they go whitewater rafting, some close up on bikes, and some even closer as they hike or run. Litter does not make a good impression on them.
(It must be acknowledged that some of the litter comes by way of visitors to the area. That’s unfortunate, but no excuse not to clean it up. And it is pretty clear from the patterns of beer cases and other repeated litterings that much of the litter is locally grown.)
The people who litter are probably not the people reading this editorial. (If you are, please stop littering.) The people who will have to clean up after them probably are. It’s sometimes difficult to motivate onseself to pick up after people who obviously don’t care about how their actions make the area look. But making the choice to beautify the area by cleaning up is a positive step toward improving not just the looks of the area, but in the long run the economic health of the region by keeping it attractive to visitors. Taking the long view may make picking up litter easier to embrace.
The Greater White Haven Chamber of Commerce will celebrate Earth Day on Friday, April 25, 9 a.m. to Noon, with a clean-up, spruce-up session on Main Street. Their goal is to make it as attractive as possible to visitors and local residents. They would welcome help. But you don’t have to wait until then to pick up litter, and you don’t have to confine yourself to downtown.
Let’s work together to make our entire area welcoming and clean by picking up the litter that’s here now, and following through on keeping it picked up throughout the summer, fall and winter.
Archives
From The Journal-Herald March 31, 2005
Clara R. Holder, Publisher
Top of page 1, a photo of women in summer dresses, waiting in line to receive their vacation pay in 1959. Jack Koehler’s story about the Read & Lovatt building continued, with details about Tung-Sol Lamp Works. At full production the plant employed over 700 people, 80% female. Housing for management was provided at the former Mehlig farm in Packer Township, which also grew food for the plant’s new modern cafeteria.
Business was booming after the war. By the end of 1950 there were three shifts, employing 1,300 people, with the largest payroll (nearly $4 million annually) in the region. It produced its 100-millionth tube in 1953.
In more up-to-date news in 2005, Ron Trimmer resigned from White Haven Council, after obtaining a job at the White Haven Center. There were three candidates on the ballot for the May primary who submitted letters of interest, along with former council president Marge Reilly. Council opted to advertise the vacancy for appointment in April.
Brian Cara resigned as Weatherly’s Police Chief after conviction on three misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled substance. He expressed remorse at sentencing and apologized to the peopleof Weatherly.
Pictures of the Easter Egg Hunt and Celebration of Spring at Eurana Park showed children in winter jackets instead of spring finery.
Proceeds from Boy Scout Troop 25’s annual Mothers’ Day Pancake Breakfast at the White Haven Community Center were designated for the Edgar Jumper Trust Fund to help pay medical expenses.
Seth reported shoveling 8″ of wet, heavy snow from a first day of spring storm, the slush piles competing with a few early flowers outside our office. In Sightings, he also reported on his tradition of skiing on the last day of the season, this year at Jack Frost Mountain.
The Weatherly Area High School Varsity Cheerleaders won first place at the Blue & Grey Cheerleading Championships, as well as a trophy for having the best jumps.
Lee Zink was named to a vacancy on the Carbon County Area Vocational Technical School Authority.
Dining Out featured Arturo’s Wilde Fern, where the wine cost $4 a glass, and the food was so ample we skipped dessert.
The Dennison Township Volunteer Fire Company thanked local businesses for donations to their new flag pole.
From The Weatherly Herald March 31, 1955
R.V. Faust, Publisher
At a meeting held at the Trachsville Fire House, a Carbon County Foresters Association was formed. David Leininger of Weatherly was elected secretary-treasurer, and Thomas Ladner of White Haven R1 was appointed to Public Relations.
A survey was conducted in connection with a proposition to establish a central vocational school in Carbon County, asking students in grades 9, 10 and 11 of Weatherly area schools. A total of 176 questionnaires were distributed to students ages 14 to 16. Of that number, 124 were returned. All of those students planned to finish high school; 70 stated they would like to attend a vocational school, and 30 indicated they planned to go to college.
Lehigh Township listed assets and liabilities of $3,074 in its annual financial statement.
Public Notices
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that LETTERS OF TESTAMENTARY have been granted to PAUL YEAGER of the Estate of Leah Dougherty, deceased and late of Hazleton, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, who died on January 19, 2025. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make payment, and those having claims, present same to:
Susan Sernak-Martinelli, Esquire
Law Office of Susan Sernak-Martinelli
199 North Church Street
Hazleton, Pennsylvania 18201 3/27
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Letters Testamentary have been granted in the Estate of Bernard A. Kattner, of State Route 903, Jim Thorpe, Carbon County, PA, who died on the 1st day of January, 2025. All persons having claims against the estate are requested to make known the same, and all persons indebted to the decedent to make payment without delay to the Executor, Michael B. Kattner, 687 State Route 903, Jim Thorpe, PA, 18229, or his attorney:
CYNTHIA S. YURCHAK, ESQUIRE
121 Carbon Street Post Office Box 49 Weatherly, PA 18255 3/27
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that LETTERS TESTAMENTARY have been granted to JOHN R. KUDLICK AND MARK R. KUDLICK of the Estate of John Kudlick, Jr. a/k/a John Kudlick, deceased and late of Weatherly, Carbon County, Pennsylvania, who died on December 28, 2024. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make payment, and those having claims, present same to:
Susan Sernak-Martinelli, Esquire Law Office of Susan Sernak-Martinelli
199 North Church Street Hazleton, Pennsylvania 18201 4/3
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that LETTERS TESTAMENTARY have been granted to REGINA MARY PETRILYAK of the Estate of Peter M. DiLauro, Jr. a/k/a Peter DiLauro, deceased and late of West Hazleton, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, who died on January 9, 2025. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make payment, and those having claims, present same to:
Susan Sernak-Martinelli, Esquire
Law Office of Susan Sernak-Martinelli
199 North Church Street Hazleton, Pennsylvania 18201 4/10
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Letters Administration have been granted to Joann Drumheller, of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, in the Estate of Frank Costabile, late of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, who died on February 25, 2025. All persons indebted to said Estate are requested to make payment and those having claims or demands to present the same without delay to the Administratrix named or to:
Alexis C. Falvello, Esquire THE FALVELLO LAW FIRM, P.C. 641 State Route 93 Sugarloaf, PA 18249 4/10
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION have been granted to TIFFANY C. BISTREK-LEGGO of the Estate of Joseph Alex Leggo aka Joe Leggo, deceased and late of Hazleton, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, who died on January 3, 2025. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make payment, and those having claims, present same to:
Susan Sernak-Martinelli, Esquire
Law Office of
Susan Sernak-Martinelli
199 North Church Street
Hazleton, Pennsylvania 18201 4/10
Foster Twp. sewer rates are going up
by Jim Dino
Sewer bills are going up in a portion of Foster Township.
At their most recent meeting March 12, the Foster Township Supervisors received a letter from Aqua Pennsylvania that rates in the eastern section of the township which the supervisors just sold last year are going up $17.05 per month, or $51.15 per quarter. The annual cost will rise from $87 to $138.15, according to a letter from Erin M. Feeney, manager of rates for Aqua Pennsylvania.
Feeney said the company has made a $950 million investment in utility infrastructure, including distribution main replacement, wastewater treatment plant rehabilitation, addressing emerging contaminants, and upgrades to pumping facilities.
When Aqua Pennsylvania representatives visited the supervisors in November to announce the increase was coming, township officials disputed the investment.
Attorney Donald Karpowich, the township solicitor who oversaw the sale of the system, could not understand why such improvements are being made to a system that was sold shortly after improvements were made.
“The system was just built in 2010,” Karpowich said. “How could it need all these improvments? These are suburban Philadelphia rates. People are going to be complaining.”
The supervisors couldn’t understand it, either especially the size of the increase.
“That’s a significant increase,” said Supervisor Chairman Wilson Malloy. “Neighboring municipalities are well below $85.”
Supervisor John Pavuk also was upset about the rate increase.
“The supervisors are 100 percent against this,” Pavuk said. “The people of the township and businesses don’t have this kind of money. This is
going to be ugly.”
Aqua Pennsylvania representatives said 194 of the 492 customers affected are eligible for assistance with their bills. Information will be inserted into bills.
Help with recreation
The supervisors are applying for a state Highway Occupancy Permit (HOP) so new sidewalks can be built on a plot of land where the former Heller’s gas station and a double home stood at the beginning of Centre Street going into Freeland. The supervisors are trying to dress up the land to attract a developer to put something commercial on the land.
The supervisors are also applying for a state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) grant to make improvements to the Woodside Playground.
There will be an Easter Egg Hunt at the playground on Sunday, April 6, beginning at 2 p.m.
The hunt is meant for kids up to 12 years old. There will be pictures with the Easter Bunny. There will be snacks and drinks, and prizes for different age groups. In the event of rain, the hunt will be held in the township’s recycling center. And the township recreation board is selling candy bars to help fund future events.
The Great Pennsylvania Cleanup will be held April 25-27 in the township. Anyone who wants to organize a group can declare an area and clean it up.
Atty. Cindy Yurchak
obituAries
ELENA DiGAGNI
Prayer service set for Lent
Elena DiGangi, 61, of Mountain Top, passed away on Friday, March 21, 2025 in Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, with family by her side.
Born in Russia, she was the daughter of Max and Larisa Tspin of Russia.
She earned her Bachelor’s Degree and loved spending time with family.
She was preceded in death by her son, Eugene Semenov.
In addition to her parents, she is survived by her loving husband Thomas DiGangi, and beloved son Matthew DiGangi, both of Mountain Top; siblings and in-laws.
Funeral service will be conducted on Saturday, March 29, at 2 p.m. from the DesiderioLehman Funeral and Cremation, 436 S. Mountain Blvd., Mountain Top with interment in Albert Cemetery, next to her son.
Friends are invited to join the family from 1 p.m. until time of service at the funeral home.
An ecumenical Lenten Prayer Service will be held Sunday, March 30, at 6:30 pm in Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Weatherly. It is a Taize service including prayer, silent reflection and songs which support this prayer and
reflection—an opportunity to move from our day to day distractions to intimate time with the Lord as we continue on our Lenten journey. It is open to all denominations and all are welcome.
Freeland starts on stormwater project
by Jim Dino
Freeland Borough Council took the first step in its stormwater rehabilitation project. At their latest meeting March 20, council voted to appoint Eckert, Seamans, Cherin and Mellott, LLC, to provide legal services in connection with the issuance of a $3.6 million bond, with a legal fee of $22,500 to be paid following the closing of the financing, anticipated to be this fall.
Council also voted to hire the Barry Isett and Associates engineering firm to help the borough apply for two state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) grants. The fee for grant assistance will not exceed $5,000 for each grant, said council president Josh Richie.
A Local Shares Account (LSA), or gaming grant, will be used for work on the borough building at 526 Fern Street, including work to make the building Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant – meaning handicapped accessible – and a new roof, in preparation for the installation of solar panels to augment the building’s heating and cooling systems, Richie said.
The other grant, a Multimodal Transportation Fund (MTF) grant, will be used to build the second part of the Centre Street Streetscape project. Previously, the portion of Centre Street was done from Front Street to South Street, with brick crosswalks, new lighting, and other amenities. Now, those amenities will be built on the portion of Centre Street from South Street to the borough line at Carbon Street.
Council also advertised an ordinance regarding streets and sidewalks in preparation for the project/
This project should dovetail into a project planned by the Foster Township Supervisors to do the same kind of work around the curve of Route 940 into Freeland.
Foster is applying for a state Highway Occupancy Permit (HOP) so new sidewalks and lighting can be built on a plot of land where the former Heller’s gas station and a double home stood at the beginning of Centre Street going into Freeland. The supervisors are trying to dress up the land to attract a developer to put something commercial on the land.
Council approved a new ordinance regarding skill-based gaming devices, to include the newer devices.
A new rental property licensing and inspection program ordinance adopted is intended to ensure compliance with all of the borough’s safety, health and zoning requirements.
Another new ordinance adopted by council will amend the borough code to establish measures for non-payment of mandatory garbage collection, including liens.
There will be a recycling event for Freeland and Foster Township on Saturday, April 12, from 9-11 a.m. in the parking lot of the Freeland Municipal Building at 526 Fern Street.
Details are on the borough’s web site, freelandborough.org.
Recreation
An Easter Egg hunt will be held in the borough April 12. All children who live in the 18224 zip code can hunt eggs. There will be three age groups – up to 3 years old, 4-7, and 8-12. Miranda Means was appointed to a two-year term on the borough recreation board. Richie said more rec board members are needed.
Council is also looking for a part-time police clerk. The position will pay $15-18 per hour, based on experience, for 10 hours per week.
Nate Staruch, a professional municipal planner, was appointed to the borough planning commission. Council is still looking for someone for the International Property Maintenance Committee appeals board.
Candidates
Continued from page 1
Weatherly Area School Board (4 to be elected to 4-year terms, 1 to be elected to 2-year term. Unofficial list does not break down whether candidates are for 4-year or 2-year terms.)
Ryan P. Binder, R & D; Nancy Mulvaney, R; Barbara Sipler, R & D
Weatherly Borough Council (4 to be elected)Vincent A. Cuddeford, II, R, Susan Danenhower, R, Jeffery Miller, R; Theresa D’Andrea-D
Tax Collector-Deborah A. Kohler, R
LUZERNE COUNTY
Dennison Township Supervisor (1 to be elected)Angela Kaminski, R, Christopher Bender, R
Tax Collector-Margaret A. McNamara, D
Foster Township Supervisor (1 to be elected)Mike Searfoss, D; John P. Pavuk, R, Alice Lachewitz, R, Benjamin J. Evancho-R
Tax Collector-Lee Ann Gera, R Freeland Borough Council (3 to be elected)Barbara Tulanowski, D; Matthew Krone, R, Frederick J. Ackers Jr., R, Frank Kislan, R, Thomas J. Meyers, R
Tax Collector-Mary Krone, D
Penn Lake Park Borough Council (3 to be elected)-Lisa Stuart, D; Daniel C. Eustice, R, Dave Bartlett, R
Tax Collector-Debora Scott, D
White Haven Borough Council (3 to be elected)-John Zugarek, D, Robert Lamson, D; Harvey L. Morrison, R, Thomas Szoke, R
Mayor-Timothy E. Janosco, R
Tax Collector-Kathryn Oross, R
JOURNAL-HERALD SERVICE DIRECTORY
Crestwood School Board (4 to be elected to 4-year terms)
Richard Nardone, Tom Stavizsky, Peter Strecker, John
Macri, Jill McGovern-Koptcho, Michael A. Namey, Justin Mirilovich, Nanci Romanyshynall cross-filed both R & D
Detours and closures to affect area
RAMP CLOSURE– The eastbound ramp onto I-80 from Route 940 will be closed on or around April 6.
All trucks, including local deliveries, must follow the detour route: Route 940 through Freeland • Route 309 • I-80 Eastbound at Mountain Top. Trucks are not permitted to use the car detour through East Side Borough.
Local and State Police will strictly enforce this.
TRAIL CLOSURE March 31 - April 18: Lehigh Gorge trail will be closed to all traffic from mile markers 111 - 114 for construction aimed at trail surface improvements. Park visitors will be able to utilize Lehigh Gorge trail from Rockport south to Penn Haven, and Glen Onoko north to mile marker 111, but there will be no through traffic between Rockport and Glen Onoko. Heavy trucks and machinery will be entering and exiting the trail during this timeframe. Park visitors must utilize caution and plan accordingly.
librAry corNer
The White Haven Area Community Library will hold its annual meeting on Tuesday April 8, at 6:30 p.m. in the John Murphy Room. Members of the community are urged to attend. During the meeting, committee reports will be presented regarding all 2024 library activities, and new library officers will be elected. The board’s regular monthly meeting will take place at 6 p.m. just prior to the Annual Meeting.
A Pysanky Egg Painting Workshop taught by Paul Corinchock will be held on Saturday, April 12, from 1 to 4 p.m. Advance registration is required for this event and can be done by calling the library at 570-443-8776 or stopping in before space runs out. The fee is $40.
The library’s Original Book Club will meet on April 2 at 6:30 in the John Murphy Room. This month’s book is The Patient’s Secret by Loreth Anne White. This novel of suspense is inspired by a horrific true crime and sure to generate some amazing conversation. Please join us for this over-18 event.
Kids aged 7 and up are welcome to come hang out at the library on Saturday, March 29, from Noon until 2. We will be playing games, working with Legos, making Friendship Bracelets, and other Arts and Crafts. No registration is needed and light refreshments will be offered. Bring your own water bottle.
Mark your calendars for May 10 to attend a Community Engagement event at the WHACL. There will be entertainment, crafts refreshments, and an opportunity to learn more about White Haven’s Blueprint Community endeavors. More information will follow as the event gets closer.
The Western Pocono Trout Unlimited and the WHACL will hold a Trout Festival on June 7. This should be a fun and educational activity for all ages. Watch the Journal Herald and the library Facebook page for additional information as it develops.
CHS at PJAS 2025
Students from the Crestwood Secondary Campus participated in the PJAS Regional Meeting on Saturday, March 1, at Wilkes University. Thirty-four students earned First Awards, including 10 Perfect Scores, while 6 students earned Second Awards. First Award winners move on to the State Competition to be held at Penn State, Main Campus in May.
Several students also received special awards.
Wilkes University Scholarship – Anna Glassic Lacawac Sanctuary and Field
Excellence Award Senior High Earth and Space Science –Shreema Rupareliya
Excellence Award Junior High Botany – Pauline Villafuerte
Excellence Award Junior High Physics – Kirsty Ricondo
PJAS PARTICIPANTS FROM CRESTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL: Row 1: Anna Morris, Kyra Bechtel, Sierra Strungus, Jessica Langan, Julie Peterlin; Row 2: Madalyn Detweiler, Lillian Michael , Noel D’Angelo, Ava Coltrane, Callie Martin , Kieren Koons; Row 3: Aarya Patel , Romessa Haq, Cameron Schwartz, Pauline Villafuerte, Kirsty Ricondo, Anna Luther; Row 4: Grayce Grazio, Darin Khuseyn, Erica Devulit, Paicy Clower, Zane Villafuerte; Row 5: Gabriella White, Aubrey Cholewa, Anna Glassic, Shreema Rupareliya, Kevin Luther; Row 6: Sheza Chaudry, Lauren Falcheck, Addison Walsh, Jack Hoovler, Yixaun Huang, Jack Groth; Row 7: Joseph Van Dusen, Sean Rossi, Clark Groth, Onur Haltas. Absent from Photo: Mason Staude, Aryanna Kijek, and Emily Wyda.
sightiNgs
This past weekend included a trip to New Jersey, to attend a family wedding on Friday evening. It’s been a long time since we’ve made that drive, so we asked advice on best routes, and left a little early to make sure we would be on time.
We were aware of the sinkholes that have appeared on Interstate 80 in spots, so we selected a slightly longer route to avoid the detours around the repairs of those sinkholes. Our chosen path took us off
Interstate 80 at Route 10, a road we used to travel when Seth’s aunt and uncle lived in New Jersey. It was familiar, and not, at the same time.
Route 10 took us to Interstate 287, which would take us to our destination in Ridgewood. We neared the junction right on time—only to find that another sinkhole had been discovered that afternoon, right there. Multiple lanes of traffic squeezed down to one. We got to the wedding on time, but just barely.
Coming home was much easier, as there was very little traffic at that hour. We were tired but happy we’d been able to share the joyful event.
Spring is definitely here, even though the temperatures are fluctuating wildly. Our forsythia has buds, and trees are showing red at the ends of branches. We’re hearing more bird songs, including an owl as we arrive home toward dusk.
The first robin of spring is always a welcome sighting. On
Sunday, we sighted a whole field of robins at Hickory Run State Park, in Sand Springs Day Area. The birds did not seem upset that we were walking there with our dogs, but were instead intent on harvesting either worms or seeds.
We also enjoyed a windy walk at Nescopeck State Park on Saturday. A mix of rain drops and sun, with clouds chased across the sky and waves formed on the lake made for a short but bracing walk.
Carbon County property transfers through March 21
Beaver Meadows
Quyen Patricia Lazala De Maria to Angela Medina, Brooklyn, New York, property at 161 Berwick St., $245,000.
Mark D. Prokopick to Mark D. Prolopick, 56 Beaver St., P.O. Box 274, Beaver Meadows, property at 56 Beaver St., $1.
East Side Borough
Howard J. Klotzkin to Sam Tokar, Marlboro, New Jersey, property at 2650 Route 534, White Haven, $640,000.
Kidder Township
Paulo Costa to Terry M. Owens, Flemington, New Jersey, property at 49 Snow Plow Hill, Lake Harmony, $215,000.
Patricia McGurrin to Foxtail Management, LLC, Linwood, New Jersey, property at 53 Eastwoods, Lake Harmony, $1215,000.
Kenneth I. Sultanof to John
J. O’Connor, Saint Michaels, Maryland, property at 202 Midlake Drive, Unit C165, Big Boulder, Lake Harmony, $360,000.
73 Red Fox, LLC, to J.A. Mohan Real Estate, LLC, Morrisville, property at 73 Red Fox Court, Lake Harmony, $380,000.
Gerald McGuire to RP Mainstreet, LLC, Morrisville, property at 48 Mountainwoods Drive, Lake Harmony, $510,000.
Christina Matirko to James Robert Doxsey, 307 Golden Oaks Drive, White Haven, property at 307 Golden Oaks Drive, $290,000.
Robert Lewis to Brelbe, LLC, Newtown Square, property at 44 Short Hill Road, Lake Harmony, $390,000.
Anthony Krystopa to Benjamin E. Dunford, Easton, Maryland, property at 43
Midway, Lake Harmony, $400,000.
Richard H. Doyle to David Caskey, Califon, New Jersey, House 6, Snow Ridge, Section A, $365,000.
John D. Traub to John D,. Traub, Hatboro, property at 141 Crest Drive, Lake Harmony, $1.
Sheriff of Carbon County to U.S. Bank, N.A., Dallas, Texas, property at 5 Bruin Court, Lake Harmony, $1.
Tonya Ann Muncey to Germindia Poconos,LLC, North Brunswick, New Jersey, property at 173 S. Lake Drive, Lake Harmony, $405,000.
MLD Poconos, LLC, to Alvin Joseph Fenton, Media, property at 324 Hummingbird Way, Lake Harmony, $455,000.
Paul Sosna to Eric Stone, Morgan town, property at 39 Midlake Drive, No. 301, Lake Harmony, $494,000.
Michael McNamara to Lisa Maria Giancaterino, Harleysville, property at 28 Laurelwoods Drive, Lake Harmony, $395,000.
James O’Neil to Tatyana Potapova, Norristown, property at 16 Gregory Place, Lake Harmony, $230,000.
Joanne P. Quinlan to 240 Properties, LLC, Wayne, property at 66 Birch St., Lake Harmony, $375,000.
Scott D. Plichta to Adam J. Berger, Florham Park, New Jersey, property at 32
Mountainwoods Drive, Lake Harmony, $480,000.
Geslier Davis to Fantasy Dwelling, LLC, Roosevelt, New York, property at 24 Elevator, White Haven, $247,476.
Elizabeth Irwin to Irene Signorelli, Huntingdon Valley, property at 491 Moseywood Road, Lake Harmony, $242,000.
Lausanne Township
Eric Randall Schultz to Allison Lee Schultz, Whitehall, property at 3287 Buck Mountain Road, $1.
Borough of Weatherly to Matthew Grega, 1474 Brenkman Drive, Weatherly, property at 13023 Legislative Route, $127,730.
Packer Township
Paul E. Bickelman to David H. Zellers, 223 Spring Mountain Road, Lehighton, lot on Tower Road, $140,000.
Sheriff of Carbon County to Dmitriy Guzheyedov, Brooklyn, New York, property at 429 Quakake Road, $93,000.
Weatherly
Joseph Scholler to Patricia M. Hadzick, 235 Second St., Weatherly, property at 235 Second St., $1.
Denise A. Garcia to Janna Buchholz, 217 Seventh St., Weatherly, property at 217 Seventh St., $100,000.
Dave Bondar Sr., far right, president of the Tresckow Hosey, presents a check for $500 to Disabled American Veterans (DAV) raised during a Guest Bartenders night held at the club March 1. Also pictured from left: John Ballick, one of the guest bartenders, a U.S. Army veteran; Bob Forish, a U.S. Navy veteran, the other guest bartender: William Hines, state commander DAV, state of Pennsylvania; and Earl Geissler, Chapter 3 commander, Mountain City DAV.
Homemade Easter Eggs at Centenary UMC
Weatherly Centenary United Methodist Church is having a Homemade Easter Egg sale. Varieties available are Coconut Cream, Peanut Roll, Butter Cream, Assorted, Milk or Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter. Each 1-pound box is $14.
Advance orders only—no special orders. Order deadline is Sunday, March 30.
To order call Ruth: 570-4278173, Phyllis: 570-427-4305, Stephanie 570-582-5507, Lisa: 570-401-4128, Wayne: 570-5825154, or Donna 570-427-4094.
At Evergreen Apartments see Georgeann. Pickup is Friday, April 11, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the Church social room.
Visit our website at pocononewspapers.com for in-between-issue stories and events
Lenten Services continue
March 26 - Our Lady of Lourdes 7 p.m.
April 2 - First Presbyterian Church of Weatherly 7 p.m.
April 9 - Centenary United Methodist Church 7 p.m.
The Community Lenten Services on March 12,19, 26, April 2 and 9 will be followed by a time of fellowship and light refreshments. All are welcome.
Roll & Paska Bread sale
Weatherly Centenary United Methodist Church is having a Royal Bakery Roll sale and a Paska Bread sale. Roll flavors available are Nut, Poppyseed, Cheese, Apricot, or Prune. All roll flavors are $18 each. Paska bread is 9 inches round and is available plain or with raisins. Either Paska is $12 each. Orders are due Sunday, April 6. To order call Ruth: 570-4278173, Phyllis: 570-427-4305, Stephanie: 570-582-5507, Wayne: 570-582-5154, or Donna: 570-427-4094. At Evergreen Apartments see Georgeann. Pickup date for all sale items is Friday, April 11, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the Church social room.
“Say What?!” Sports figures and their mystifying quotes
by Matthew Sieger
Barry Zito: “When you know, you know. You know?”
Yogi Berra: “Baseball is 90 percent mental. The other half is physical.”
Bill Shankly: “Some people believe football (soccer) is a matter of life and death. I’m very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much more important than that.”
Jerry Rice: “I feel like I’m the best, but you’re not going to get me to say that.”
Hank Aaron: “It took me 17 years to get 3,000 hits in baseball. I did it in one
afternoon on the golf course.”
Jacques Plante: “Goaltending is a normal job, sure. How would you like it in your job if a red light went on over your desk every time you made a small mistake and 15,000 people stood up and yelled at you?”
Vi tas Gerulaitis, upon beating Jimmy Connors after 16 consecutive losses to him: “And let that be a lesson to you. Nobody beats Vitas Gerulaitis 17 times in a row.”
Tug McGraw on if he preferred grass or AstroTurf: “I dunno. I never smoked grass.”
George Rogers, New Orleans Saints running back, about the upcoming season: “I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first.”
Dizzy Dean after a 1-0 baseball game:
“The game was closer than the score indicated.”
Weldon Drew, former college basketball coach: “We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors.”
Pat Williams, former Orlando Magic General Manager: “We can’t win at home. We can’t win on the road. As general manager, I can’t figure out where else to play.”
Greg Norman: “I owe a lot to my parents, especially my mother and father.”
Titi Fuentes, former MLB second baseman: “They shouldn’t throw at me. I’m the father of five or six kids.”
Gordie Howe: “All hockey players are bilingual. They know English and profanity.”
President Gerald Ford: “I know I am improving at golf because I’m hitting fewer spectators.”
Garry Maddox after hitting a grand slam: “As I remember it, the bases were loaded.”
Terrell Owens: “Don’t say I don’t get along with my teammates. I don’t get along with some of the guys on the team.”
Ned Coletti, former Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti, on scouting a prospective pitcher: “He had good command, though. He didn’t hit any cars or anything.”
Stephen Neal, former New England Patriots offensive lineman on Tom Brady’s minor car accident: “We can’t protect him all the time.”
Brett Anderson, former Oakland A’s pitcher Brett Anderson, after slugger Manny Ramirez joined the team in spring training: “Manny just asked if I was the video coordinator. Our relationship can only go up from here.”
Marshawn Lynch on Seahawks offensive line coach Tom Cable: “Being from Oakland, all I knew about him is that he punched people. That’s my kind of person.”
Steve Keim, former Arizona Cardinals general manager, on how the NFL assesses character in the Draft: “If Hannibal Lecter ran a 4.3, we’d probably diagnose it as an eating disorder.”
Doc Rivers on welcoming back forward Blake Griffin to the Clippers after Griffin punched a team staffer and broke his hand: “You forgive people. We built Nixon a library.”
Tony Gwynn: “We know we’re better than this, but we can’t prove it.”
A graduate of Syracuse and Cornell, Matt Sieger was formerly a sports reporter/columnist for the Cortland (NY) Standard and The Vacaville (CA) Reporter. Author of The God Squad: The Born-Again San Francisco Giants of 1978, he is now a columnist at The Sports Column.
JourNAl-herAld sPorts Crestwood girls see special season end in state semifinals
Lady Comets fall to 4-time state champion Archbishop Wood
by Steve Stallone Sports Editor
SOUTH WHITEHALL
TWP.
— The Crestwood girls brought size, talent and confidence into Saturday’s PIAA Class 5A basketball semifinal, the first in program history.
On most given days, that would have been enough for these record-setting Lady Comets.
Not against Archbishop Wood. The four-time defending Class 5A state champions showed their winning pedigree from the opening tap Saturday, putting the Lady Comets on their heels and ultimately pulling away to a 68-29 victory that sent the Vikings back to Hershey once again.
Archbishop Wood (22-7) will face District 7 runner-up South Fayette (28-2) for the Class 5A state championship Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Giant Center. South Fayette avenged a loss to Peters Township in the District 7 final by winning in last
weekend’s other semifinal game.
“It’s exciting. We’re happy to get back there,” said Archbishop Wood head coach Mike McDonald, who insisted it doesn’t get old. “We went in 2016 and 2017 and won, then we lost. But since 2021 we’ve won it. But it’s not guaranteed,” he said. “You’re not guaranteed to get there and you’re not guaranteed to win it. It can change at any time and you won’t get there for a couple years, so enjoy it, embrace it, be excited about it. And they are.”
Meanwhile, Crestwood’s magical 24-5 season one that included a first-ever District 2 championship and the first three state tournament wins in program history came to a sudden close.
“It’s tough,” said Crestwood’s Mary Mushock-Namey, whose team was unable to match Archbishop Wood’s firepower or depth. “We don’t see that all year long, so you can’t even prepare for that in a sense because you don’t have five girls
Crestwood senior Kate Gallagher (22) goes up for a shot inside and is fouled by Archbishop Wood’s Emma Seckinger as Ryan Carter (1) looks on Saturday at Parkland High School. The four-time defending PIAA Class 5A champions punched their ticket to a fifth straight title game, dealing the Lady Comets a season-ending 68-29 setback in the semifinal showdown.
in practice to prepare you for that. It’s really hard, especially when you’re 4 1/2 months into a season, how do you prepare for a game like that, a team of that caliber?”
step through the Crestwood defense for an easy layup and a lead the Vikings would never relinquish.
Off the game’s opening tip, Wood’s high-end talent level was on full display when six-foot forward Ryan Carter did a skip
Carter, regarded as one of the nation’s top sophomores and one of the state’s premier players, was far from through, finishing with a game-high 23 points as college scouts looked on. Her slashing plays to the rim and kick-outs to open teammates led to four 3-pointers in the first quarter alone as Wood opened up a 22-5 lead after one. Four different Vikings hit a triple in that opening quarter, and Carter had nine of her 23 points.
When Sophia McDonald buried the Vikings’ fourth triple for an 18-2 lead at the 2:25 mark, Mushock-Namey was already calling time out to talk to her team.
Photo by Bob Gaetano
Crestwood
Continued from page 10
“Just calm down,” she told them. “I think we were trying to play way, way too fast to try to keep up with their speed, and that wasn’t going to be possible. We realized we got punched in the mouth and they weren’t really getting back up. They were trying to get it all back in one possession.”
Archbishop Wood was able to get it done at both ends of the court, as the Vikings’ defense was able to disrupt what the Lady Comets were trying to do, which was pound it inside to sixfooters Charlie Hiller and Kate Gallagher.
“We knew their length and felt like we might have some issues if they were able to get it down low,” McDonald said. “We saw some of that in the second half. Hiller was able to get down low and score in the post, so that was our concern.
“We were hoping, and we think that our ball pressure took them out of being able to run some of the stuff to get it in down low. I thought we did a tremendous job of defending without fouling to force the tempo, and then we made enough shots to build a lead early and keep that pressure on them.”
While Archbishop Wood was going 14-of-29 from the field in the opening half, with six triples, Crestwood missed 14 of its 17 shots and committed 13 first-half turnovers as the Lady Comets faced a 36-11 halftime deficit.
“That basketball in the first
Crestwood senior Kendall Petrosky (11) attempts a shot against Archbishop Wood’s Ryan Carter during Saturday’s PIAA Class 5A girls’ basketball semifinal game at Parkland High School. Archbishop Wood advanced to its fifth consecutive championship game with a 68-29 victory.
Photo by Bob Gaetano
players in double figures and 11 3-point field goals. Meanwhile, Wood’s defense ultimately led to 22 Crestwood turnovers.
“We’ve got some tough, quick, fast defenders so we figured we’d step up our defense by bringing the press,” McDonald said. “It’s been a difference maker for us throughout these first four rounds of states. It takes people out of their offense, makes teams play quicker than maybe they’re used to and takes out some of the Xs and Os their coach might be able to provide by playing their game.”
Jackie Gallagher, Hiller, Andrews and Petrosky all added Crestwood baskets later, and Kate Gallagher sank two free throws, as the Lady Comets continued battling before the starters were finally pulled in the final minutes.
Hiller led the Lady Comet scorers with eight points. Petrosky had six points in her final game, and fellow senior Kate Gallagher had four points and a team-best 10 rebounds. Jackie Gallagher finished with six points and four rebounds, and Andrews had four rebounds and dished three assists. Cameron Vieney and Andrews excelled defensively for Crestwood.
half was definitely not us playing basketball,” stated MushockNamey. “They’re better than us — let’s be straightforward, they are. But we wanted to show them that we do belong here so go out and give 16 more minutes of heart because that’s what everybody came to see.”
In the second half, that’s just what the Lady Comets did.
Crestwood opened the third quarter on a 5-2 run, as Hiller
scored down low and then nailed a baseline jumper, both off Jordan Andrew assists. In between, Kendall Petrosky hit 1-of-2 free throws as the Lady Comets inched to within 38-16.
But Sophia Topakas’ driving basket opened up another Archbishop Wood run, a 9-0 spurt that stretched the lead to 31 points and kicked in the mercy rule.
Liz Berger has been providing Tag & Title, DCNR, Boat and Fish Commission, and general Notary services in White Haven for over 30 years. As the local community Notary Public with years of experience, there is no question she can’t answer. Find her at Lehigh Gorge Campground, 4585 State Street in East Side, or under the More tab at: lehighgorgecampground.com
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THEME: FORMER RULERS
ACROSS
1. London native, e.g.
5. Major news network, acr. 8. Elect democratically
12. Dharma teacher 13. *Henry ____, a serial husband 14. Mosaic artist 15. Cracked open 16. Between ids and super-egos
17. More unfriendly 18. *Babylonian ruler, code creator 20. Minute bit
21. Cavern or cave 22. Not amateur 23. Sapodilla tree gum
26. *Akhenaton or Tutankhamun
30. Be bedridden 31. a.k.a. crown vetch
34. *Viracocha, the eighth Sapa ____ of Kingdom of Cusco
35. Like some peppers
37. ____-been
60. Rainbows, e.g.
61. Al Capone, e.g.
62. Difficult situation
63. Striped stinger
64. Biblical paradise
DOWN
1. Ho-hum
2. Indian royal
3. Mosque V.I.P.
4. Plane road
5. “Sometimes a cigar is just a ____”
6. She turned to stone
7. Not yet final, legally speaking
8. *Second-longest reining British monarch
9. Spaghetti aglio and ____
10. Do like bees?
11. Go wrong
13. Top of a mountain, e.g.
14. #8 Down’s headdress, e.g.
19. Untwist a rope
22. Third degree
23. Lawyers’ loads
24. Informed of latest trends (2 words)
25. Homeric epic
26. Exterminator’s target
27. Liquorice flavor
28. Based on number 8
29. Rash
32. *Mohammad Reza ____ Pahlavi
33. Get calories
36. *Robert Graves’ “I, ____”
38. Comprehend
40. Medicinal amt.
41. Kindle editions
44. Not quite right
46. Posture
48. Unfriendly stare
49. From this time
50. Equinox month
51. Concludes
52. Underwater hermit
53. Arnold Lobel’s “Frog and ____”
54. Tug-of-War equipment
55. Soon, to a bard
56. Burton of gothic horror genre
38. Trots and canters
39. And others, for short
40. Shred of clothing
42. Aptitude test, acr.
43. a.k.a. sodium carbonate
45. In ignoble manner
47. One behind plate, for short
48. Patrick Swayze/ Demi Moore movie
50. George Lucas’ warrior-monk
52. *Egypt’s famous queen
56. Capital of Tunisia
57. Military status
58. “High” time
59. River in India
On the Sly
Lady Comets can hold their heads high after memorable season
by Steve Stallone Sports Editor
Just how good was the Crestwood High School girls’ basketball team this season?
For starters, it compiled a 24-5 record, with all five losses to state tournament teams. No Crestwood girls’ team had ever won 20 games in a season before.
The Lady Comets won the program’s first District 2 Class 5A championship, beating Dallas in a runaway at Mohegan Arena and punching their ticket to the PIAA Tournament for the first time.
State tournament victories over Manheim Central, Freire Charter and Strath Haven followed, getting the Lady Comets one win away from a trip to Hershey for the state championships.
It ultimately took a very good Archbishop Wood team to end Crestwood’s mighty run in the semifinals, and the Lady Comets went down swinging, playing hard right through the fourth quarter.
Although there were plenty of tears flowing as the final minutes and seconds ticked away Saturday, the Lady Comets could hold their heads high.
After all, they lost to the fourtime defending Class 5A state champion, one that beat all its state tournament foes by at least 26 points this season.
Crestwood sophomore Charlie Hiller, right, glides to the basket against Strath Haven during their PIAA Class 5A girls’ basketball quarterfinal game earlier this month at Easton. The 2024-25 Lady Comets went 24-5 and advanced further than any team in program history, winning their first District 2 championship and reaching the state semifinal round for the first time.
And they also lost to a team that was red-hot from the perimeter. The Vikings were 26-of-50 (52 percent) from the field and 37 percent (11-of-30) from 3-point land, outscoring Crestwood 33-3 from beyond the arc in the 68-29 victory.
“They’re just a very good three-point shooting team,” stated Crestwood head coach Mary Mushock-Namey.
And, they had the best player on the floor in six-foot wing Ryan Carter, who is a Division
1 talent and a frontrunner for Class 5A Player of the Year in Pennsylvania as a sophomore.
“Carter is a phenomenal player, and she brought her ‘A-game’ today,” noted Mushock-Namey.
Of Crestwood’s five losses this season, three came to WVC and District 2 6A champion Hazleton Area, which went undefeated
all the way to the PIAA 6A quarterfinals before ending 28-1. The others came to Class 6A Scranton in the season-opener, and Saturday to the four-time defending state champions.
Not exactly chopped liver.
Crestwood did it with a short bench too, and without one of its key players all season long. They lost two-year starting point guard Keira Dougherty to a season-ending injury before the season even started and went only six deep for most games and throughout the postseason.
Mushock-Namey said the team will certainly miss its two graduating seniors, four-year letterwinner Kate Gallagher and Kendall Petrosky, who were key figures in Crestwood’s “Iron Six” contingent. The 6-1 Gallagher was among the team’s rebound and shot-blocking leaders, and Petrosky one of the top 3-point threats. But they brought so much more, their coach said, including defense, toughness and leadership.
“They’ve meant everything,” she said. “If it wasn’t for their leadership on the court, we wouldn’t be where we are today.
“Kendall did a complete 360 from last year and she became a complete player,” added Mushock-Namey, who saw
Photo by Bob Gaetano
On the Sly
Continued from page 14
Petrosky named to the WVC Division 1 All-Star Second Team earlier in the week.
“Kate is the mother of the family. They all just look up to her so much, so without those two, just their presence on the floor means everything to these girls.”
FORWARD MOTION
The Crestwood girls are hoping this season’s special journey is not a one-time thing. With most of its core group back, they’re hoping to run it back next season and beyond.
Jackie Gallagher and Charlie Hiller, a pair of sixfoot sophomores, were 1-2 in scoring this season, and were honored by being selected to the WVC Division 1 All-Star First Team.
Junior Jordan Andrews, who assumed a lot of the point guard duties when Dougherty was lost for the season, responded with a solid season handling the ball and distributing it to the big girls inside, while also excelling defensively and improving her outside shot.
Cameron Vieney, another sophomore, provided a huge spark off the bench as both a defensive stopper and ball handler, and also at times an explosive scorer.
Dougherty’s return from injury for her senior season will complete a solid fiveplayer core for next season, though Mushock-Namey knows it will take more than that and improvement across the board if they are to compete with the likes of Archbishop Wood in the future.
“The whole second half that’s what I was thinking, not that I wanted to look forward to next year already, but I was looking at things and thinking this is what we have to do next year,” Mushock-Namey said Saturday. “If we want to be able to compete with a team like this next year, we have to do those things. We have to be quicker, we have to be better with the ball, we have to have a higher percentage in field goals, things like that.”
Archbishop Wood head coach Mike McDonald is no stranger to the process. And, although they have won each of the last four PIAA Class 5A championships, it takes hard work and continued improvement to get to the top and to stay there.
“It’s really hard (to get back),” he said after Saturday’s semifinal win. “They’re teenage girls, it’s high school, they have individual expectations, so you’re managing those throughout the season every year, no matter what school you’re at. There’s a lot that goes into it.
“We work really hard, I think we work on skill in the offseason a lot to get kids better individually, and as a team we work at it very hard,” added McDonald, who said a rugged schedule is also key to success this time of year.
“We try to play the best teams we can play during the season,” he said. “We played five teams that were nationally ranked at one point in the season. And then our league is very competitive and tough, so you have to be ready to play every night in our league. I think that pressure and that level of play that you have all season long gets you ready for this.”
Although the Lady Comets surprised many and even themselves with how far they got this season, they’ll need to work harder still if they want to run it back and get another shot at more program history next season.
“I don’t want to doubt them, but no I did not expect us to get this far,” Mushock-Namey admitted after they beat Strath Haven in the quarterfinals. “Once you leave our area, the competition in basketball is really, really intense and it becomes a lot harder. But these girls have battled through everything and have pushed and worked their butts off, and that’s why they’re here, because of all the hard work and the mental approach that they take to every game.”
And that effort is what made Crestwood’s special run so memorable for everyone who followed it.
Crestwood High School cheerleaders Gabriella White, front, and Jillian Snyder cheer on the Lady Comets at Saturday’s PIAA Class 5A semifinal game at Parkland High School. Crestwood advanced further than any team in program history this season, winning its first District 2 championship and reaching the state semifinals for the first time.
sPorts briefs
Staude, Moulton 1-2 at Winter’s End Run
This year’s 44th Annual Winter’s End 4.5-Mile Run, held Sunday at Penn State WilkesBarre, had a distinct Crestwood flavor to it.
Crestwood High School cross country and track standout Mason Staude, 17, captured first place in the men’s division, winning in a time of 24 minutes, 56 seconds.
The runner-up? Staude’s cross country and track coach at Crestwood, 32-year old Rob Moulton, who was 17 seconds behind at 25:13. Moulton won this race in 2021.
Marina Martino, 33, of Dallas was the top female finisher and placed eighth overall in a time of 27:14. She is a five-time winner of this event. Brenda Brawley, 44, of Shavertown was the second female to cross the finish line. She clocked in at 31:19.
The event kicked off the 50th anniversary celebration of the Wyoming Valley Striders. The 216 total entrants this year was the most since 1987.
Sunday’s race also marked the first leg of the 6th Annual
Vince Wojnar Triple Crown. The series continues with the Cherry Blossom 5 Miler on April 27 at Kirby Park.
Local soccer players to play in Spain
Four members of the Mayhem youth soccer team from Mountain Top have been chosen to travel to Spain this spring to participate in the Barcelona Academy for Soccer.
Daniel Benyo, Hunter Kruk, Christopher McGeer and Landon Sadowski will be headed to Spain, where they will learn the “Barca” style of soccer at the Barcelona Academy.
Those four players joined hundreds of players from numerous states and countries recently in Philadelphia, where they participated in soccer competitions. The best of those players - those who exhibited exceptional talent, skill and respect for the game - were invited to play in Barcelona.
The Mayhem team players are coached by Raymond Kruk and JJ Iracki.
Photo by Bob Gaetano
Comet players named to WVC basketball all-star teams
Four Crestwood players have been selected for the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 basketball all-star teams, as selected by the conference coaches.
On the girls’ side, Crestwood sophomores Jackie Gallagher and Charlie Hiller were firstteam selections, while senior teammate Kendall Petrosky was chosen for the Division 1 second team.
On the boys’ side, Comet junior Ayden Agapito was chosen to the Division 1 first team.
GIRLS
WVC Division 1 had co-MVPs in Hazleton Area teammates Kaitlyn Bindas and Alexis Reimold. Pittston Area senior Daniella Ranieli was chosen the Player of the Year.
Bindas, a sophomore, and Reimold, a junior, were instrumental in Hazleton Area finishing 28-1, winning the
Division 1 and District 2 Class 6A championships and advancing to the PIAA 6A quarterfinals. Bindas was second in the division in scoring with a 17.1 average and third with 46 3-pointers. Reimold averaged 11 points and provided stellar defense and an overall floor game.
Ranieli led Division 1 in scoring at 22.3 per game, and also hit 57 triples.
Gallagher and Hiller were 1-2 in scoring for Crestwood, and helped lead the Lady Comets to the program’s first District 2 Class 5A title in a 24-5 season that didn’t end until the PIAA 5A semifinals.
They were joined on the first team by Hazleton Area senior Sophia Shults and sophomore Sophia Benyo, and Dallas 6-2 freshman Odessa Kanton.
Hazleton Area’s Joe Gavio was chosen Coach of the Year.
Joining Crestwood’s Petrosky on the Division 1 second team were Berwick freshman Abby
Scholastic Schedule
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26
Baseball
Wyoming Seminary at Crestwood
Softball
Hanover Area at Crestwood
Boys’ Lacrosse
Lakeland at Crestwood
Boys’ Tennis
Crestwood at Wyoming Valley West
THURSDAY, MARCH 27
Baseball
Weatherly Area at Marian
Softball
Weatherly Area at Marian
FRIDAY, MARCH 28
Baseball
Weatherly Area at MMI Prep
Softball
Crestwood at Holy Redeemer
Boys’ Lacrosse
Tunkhannock at Crestwood
Boys’ Tennis
Holy Redeemer at Crestwood
SATURDAY, MARCH 29
Softball
Lincoln Leadership Academy at Weatherly Area
MONDAY, MARCH 31
Softball
Weatherly Area at MMI Prep
Track and Field
Crestwood at Dallas
Boys’ Lacrosse
Crestwood at Dallas
Boys’ Tennis
Wilkes-Barre Area at Crestwood
TUESDAY, APRIL 1
Baseball
Williams Valley at Weatherly Area
Crestwood at Pittston Area
Softball
Williams Valley at Weatherly Area
Track and Field
Weatherly Area at Schuylkill Haven
Girls’ Lacrosse
Crestwood at Wyoming
Seminary
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2
Softball
Tunkhannock at Crestwood
Track and Field
Crestwood at Wilkes-Barre Area
Calarco, Dallas junior Mia DelGaudio, Wilkes-Barre Area senior Diamond Thornton and Wyoming Valley West junior Thalia Irizarry.
In WVC Division 2, LakeLehman senior Ella Wilson was named the MVP and Wyoming Seminary sophomore Ella Stambaugh was chosen the Player of the Year.
Other Division 2 first team picks were Holy Redeemer seniors Megan Albrecht and Brooke Kroptavich, Holy Redeemer junior Bella Boylan, Lake-Lehman freshman Kinley Purdy and Nanticoke Area junior Kate Reed.
Lake-Lehman’s Charlie Lavan was tabbed Coach of the Year.
The second team included Holy Redeemer junior McKenzie Chimock, Lake-Lehman junior Kathryn Morgan, Nanticoke Area junior Nevaeh Baran, Tunkhannock senior Laurianna Alston and Wyoming Seminary sophomore Ellie Kersey.
BOYS
Crestwood scoring leader Ayden Agapito, who helped the Comets to the District 2 Class 5A playoffs, was the only Crestwood boy to be chosen to the WVC boys’ all-star squad, earning first team honors.
Wilkes-Barre Area junior guard David Jannuzzi, who led the division in scoring at 20.8 ppg, was selected the Division 1 MVP.
Joining Jannuzzi and Agapito on the first team were Dallas senior Jude Nocito, Hazleton Area senior Luis Guzman, Hazleton Area sophomore Dylan Stish and Pittston Area senior Silvio Giardina.
The Division 1 second team consisted of Dallas sophomore Pat Flanagan, Nanticoke Area junior Mathias Mitchell, Pittston Area sophomore Lucas Lopresto, Wilkes-Barre Area junior Mike Keating and Wyoming Valley West senior Navion Terry.
Wilkes-Barre Area’s Jim Lavan was named Coach of the Year.
Boys’ Lacrosse
Crestwood at Scranton Prep
Boys’ Tennis
Crestwood at Berwick
THURSDAY, APRIL 3
Baseball
Weatherly Area at Minersville
Crestwood at Nanticoke
Softball
Weatherly Area at Minersville
Girls’ Lacrosse
Crestwood at North Pocono
FRIDAY, APRIL 4
Baseball
Nativity at Weatherly Area
Softball
Crestwood at Wyoming Valley West
Boys’ Lacrosse
Crestwood at Delaware Valley
Boys’ Tennis
Crestwood at Hazleton Area
SATURDAY, APRIL 5
Baseball
Crestwood at Dallas
Girls’ Lacrosse
Crestwood at Lake-Lehman
In Division 2, Wyoming Area sophomore guard Luke Kopetchny was chosen the MVP after averaging 21 ppg for the state qualifiers.
He was joined on the first team by senior teammates Lukas Burkiewicz and Antek Evan, Berwick senior Julian Howie, Hanover Area senior Noah Dewey and Holy Redeemer senior David Popson.
The Division 2 second team consisted of MMI Prep senior Nick Pantages, Berwick seniors Billy Hanson and Kaden Hickman, Holy Redeemer senior Brayden Sock and Tunkhannock junior Bode Lukasavage. Wyoming Area’s Anthony Macario was the Division 2 Coach of the Year.
