12/4/2020
Greater Nanticoke Area furloughs support employees
Michael P. Buffer – Citizens Voice

Greater Nanticoke Area School District support staff employees will be on furlough while the district has suspended in-person learning.
The school board approved the furloughs at Thursday’s meeting. Most furloughed employees are part-time and don’t receive benefits, and the full-time employees will continue to receive health benefits until the end of March, Superintendent Ronald Grevera said.
He added he hopes students will be back to school before March because COVID-19 transmission metrics will decline. The meeting agenda identified 67 furloughed employees, and Grevera said two or three are full-time.
The district began the school year with a hybrid schedule that alternated in-person and online instruction days for two groups of students and transitioned last month to all online after COVID-19 transmission in Luzerne County exceed the “substantial” metrics. The district plans to remain in the virtual mode until at least Jan. 19.
“At that time, we’ll take a look at the numbers,” Grevera said. “There’s a light at the end of the tunnel. As we all know, vaccines are on their way.”
Grevera said the “hope is that by mid-January, the district will be able to resume the hybrid model” and perhaps provide in-person instruction for all students five days a week by the end of the school year.
Thursday’s virtual meeting was on the Zoom platform. The board on Thursday also conducted a reorganization meeting and appointed Tony Prushinski as board president, Kenny James as vice president and Vito DeLuca as school district solicitor for the next year.

12/4/2020
Greater Nanticoke Area furloughs aides, cleaners, cafeteria workers
smguydish@timesleader.com

Greater Nanticoke Area School Board re-elected Tony Prushinski as president during its re-organization meeting Thursday, then went into a regular meeting that included approving furloughs of scores of aides, cleaners, cafeteria workers and others who have no work while students are learning remotely due to the surge of COVID-19 cases in Luzerne County.
Noting the district will remain in remote-only mode until at least Jan. 19, Superintendent Ron Grevera opened his remarks by pointing out the county had a record number of new cases — 362 — on Thursday.
“Today has been a very difficult day,” he said, adding that, with a vaccine now on the way, “there is a light at the end of the tunnel.”
But the district likely won’t have students return to schools until the county’s positivity rate — the percent of tests that come back positive — drops under 10%. As of last Friday the county positivity rate was 13.7%.
The furloughs “must be done” in part to protect employees. “It is best to have the fewest number of people in the buildings,” he said, to reduce the risk of spreading the virus. “Our hope is that after the pandemic passes we will immediately recall the employees being furloughed.”
The board unanimously approved the furloughs, which affected 30 special education aides, 10 cafeteria employees, one cafeteria worker, 19 cleaners, three crossing guards, four hall monitors, five instructional aides, one library aide, one 10-month secretary, two maintenance workers and a nurse aide. All were furloughed under terms of a memorandum of understanding with each group’s union.
The board also accepted the retirement of cafeteria worker Brenda Boone and the resignation of special education teacher Richard Borofski.
The board approved a quote from K&D Factory Services, Inc., to repair cafeteria equipment as needed at a rate of $93.60 per hour and a travel fee of $75. And it approved a quote from Edwards Business Systems to replace district copy machines at a cost of $5,358 monthly.

12/2/2020

Vehicle crashes into home in Nanticoke

 James Halpin - Citizens Voice

A vehicle caused extensive damage when it crashed into a Nanticoke home on Tuesday afternoon, according to firefighters.

Responders were called to 7 Garfield St. around 4:45 p.m. to a report of a vehicle that crashed into a structure with a patient lying in the grass.

The driver, who was not identified, was taken to an area hospital for treatment, firefighters said.

Firefighters determined the vehicle had intruded on a load-bearing wall that would need to be reinforced before the vehicle was removed.

The structure was stabilized and the vehicle was removed.

Units cleared the scene within two hours, firefighters said.

It was not immediately clear whether the driver would face charges.

11/21/2020
Greater Nanticoke Area using $250,000 grant to fund football stadium improvements
Michael P. Buffer – Citizens Voice

Greater Nanticoke Area School District plans to get $250,000 from a state grant to fund improvements at the high school football stadium.
The district has applied for a Local Share Account grant through the city of Nanticoke. Local Share Account grants are funded with gaming revenue generated by casinos, including Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.
Greater Nanticoke Area is looking to do the stadium project in phases as grant money becomes available, Superintendent Ronald Grevera said. The school board also voted Nov. 12 to buy a new scoreboard for the stadium.
The $24,180 purchase was funded with a donation from the Distasio family, and the new scoreboard is in memory of former football coach Dan Distasio, Grevera said.
 

11/13/2020
Greater Nanticoke Area to remain in remote-only into January
mguydish@timesleader.com

Citing the growing number of COVID-19 cases in the county and the district, as well as an increase in the percentage of test coming back positive, Superintendent Ronald Grevera announced at Thursday’s School Board meeting that Greater Nanticoke Area School District will remain in remote-only mode until at least Jan. 19, the day after the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
“With both Thanksgiving and Christmas coming there are expected to be further increases,” Grevera said. “We will move to the virtual platform until Jan. 18, and at that time assess the numbers to see if we can move back to in-person.”
Luzerne County’s daily number of new COVID-19 cases has increased dramatically since early October, exceeding 100 new cases in the each of the last three days, with the 192 new cases reported Thursday being the highest one-day total since the first case of coronavirus was recorded in the county.
Nanticoke has not been immune to the increase. The Nanticoke ZIP Code of 18634 reported 26 new cases over seven days last week, fourth highest among 41 codes tracked by the Times Leader that are all or partially in Luzerne County. The week before that, the Nanticoke code had 34 new cases over seven days.
During the voting session, the board approved the purchase of a multi-sport scoreboard at a cost of $24,180, in memory of the late Daniel Distasio, former district football coach. The cost is being covered through a grant from Attorney Daniel Distasio managed through the Luzerne Foundation. 
In a sports-related move, the board moved to apply for a Local Share Grant through Nanticoke City to cover costs of the stadium project. Local Share Grants are funded with money the state gets from legalized gambling, awarded to municipalities and school districts to help with projects that otherwise may not get done or may require an increase in local taxes.
The board also agreed to pay Conrad Siegel $6,850 to ensure compliance with mandates of the Affordable Care Act, a move many local districts have taken since the Act went into effect, to make sure they meet employer mandates.
And the board voted to donate $5,000 to to the Mill Memorial Library.
 

11/13/2020
Local school districts change learning plans as cases spike
Michael P. Buffer – Citizens Voice

​

Wyoming Valley West School District is suspending in-person learning and will provide virtual instruction until further notice, Superintendent David Tosh said Thursday night.

Greater Nanticoke Area has already made that decision and will continue with virtual instruction until at least Jan. 19, Superintendent Ronald Grevera said Thursday during a virtual school board meeting.

Dallas School District reported Thursday that a high school employee, who was last on campus Monday, tested positive for COVID-19. Dallas High School will be closed Friday to students, and all instruction will be delivered online synchronously.

Dallas expects to resume its hybrid learning schedule of online and in-person learning Monday at the high school. Wycallis Primary Center, Dallas Intermediate and Dallas Middle School will continue with their hybrid schedules Friday.

According to an update page on its website, Wyoming Valley West reported six current adult cases and one current student case, with 12 adults currently in isolation and 36 students currently in isolation.

Students in the Crestwood School District reverted to virtual classes Thursday after three new COVID-19 cases were reported this week. Superintendent Bob Mehalick said school buildings will remain closed Friday. A decision will be made over the weekend whether to resume classes in person or continue with virtual education next week. Students and parents will be alerted of the decision through social media.

Wilkes-Barre Area has suspended in-person learning and is waiting for Luzerne County to go back to being in the moderate-risk category, as defined by the state.

Counties designated as having substantial risk have an incidence rate of more than 100 new cases per 100,000 residents over seven days or a positivity rate above 10% over seven days. The positivity rate in Luzerne County is 7.9%.

The incidence rate is 138.8, up from the previous week’s rate of 132. It was 118.4 two weeks ago.

The Pennsylvania State Education Association, the teachers union, this week asked every school district in the state to follow health guidelines and transition to remote learning in counties with an incidence rate of 100 or more or a 10% or higher positivity rate.

Lake-Lehman, Northwest Area and the West Side Career and Technology Center are currently providing in-person classes. Pittston Area and Wyoming Area have not had in-person classes since March.

11/3/2020
Greater Nanticoke Area continuing with all virtual learning through Nov. 13
Michael P. Buffer – Citizens Voice

 
Greater Nanticoke Area officials announced the district would follow recommendations from the state Department of Health and Department of Education.
Greater Nanticoke Area School District will continue to provide virtual learning only for all schools through Nov. 13, according to a message on the district website.
The district is following recommendations from the state Department of Health and Department of Education, Superintendent Ronald Grevera said. The district has been virtual only since Oct. 26.
On Friday, Wilkes-Barre Area School District announced it was suspending in-person learning for students until the COVID-19 transmission rate in Luzerne County is back in the moderate category for 14 days.
To get back to the moderate category, the COVID-19 incidence rate in Luzerne County must be less than 100 per 100,000 residents. The county moved into the substantial category a week ago when the rate was 118.4 per 100,000 residents. It is now is 132.
Other school districts in the county are continuing to provide in-person learning. Dallas has a hybrid plan with two groups of students, and each group has in-person learning two days in a full week.
Dallas on Monday reported two COVID-19 cases and did not announce it was shutting down a building or adjusting its schedule. The cases involve an employee at Wycallis Primary Center and a Dallas High School student.
Lake-Lehman School District has been providing in-person learning this year five days a week for students who do not want cyber or virtual options. Lake-Lehman reported a COVID-19 case involving a high school employee and did not announce any adjustments or a decision to close a building.
 

10/28/2020
Nanticoke woman dresses like late Justice Ginsburg to vote
Bob Kalinowski – Citizens Voice

On the day Justice Amy Coney Barrett was confirmed and sworn in to the U.S. Supreme Court, Stephanie Boback of Nanticoke dressed like the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to drop off her mail-in ballot at the Luzerne County Election Bureau in the Penn Place building.
“I wore her famous ‘dissent collar.’ It was a little symbol of how she felt about what was being presented to her. I wore a black shirt, which I guess replaced the robe I don’t have and I pulled my hair back in the classic bun. My little green earrings were probably less expensive than her usual jewelry,” Boback said.
Boback, 39, said her voting attire wasn’t meant as a protest against Barrett, but reverence to Ginsburg.
“It was a personal empowerment thing to show I was in solidarity with other women voting no matter how they were voting,” Boback said. “It didn’t have anything to do with the confirmation. It wasn’t a protest. It was to inspire. I felt confidence in casting a ballot.”
Boback said she “definitely saw a smile, wink and a nod” from voters in line waiting to vote early in person. She said she dropped off her ballot around 4:10 p.m. Monday and received a confirmation email by 6:11 p.m.
She declined to say who she voted for, but said it was easy to assume.
“By the Ruth Bader Ginsburg outfit, I think you can draw an assumption,” Boback said. “It’s fairly obvious.”
 

10/23/2020
Greater Nanticoke Area going full virtual to Oct. 30
mguydish@timesleader.com

Greater Nanticoke Area School District announced it will switch to remote-only learning beginning Monday and running through Friday.

The district posted a notice on the homepage of its website: “All GNA schools will go virtual from Monday, October 26th to Friday, October 30.”

Contacted by email, Superintendent Ronald Grevera explained the move.

“We decided that at this point in time with both the positivity rate increasing as well as the incidence rate increasing in our local area in central Luzerne County that it was prudent for the safety of staff and students to move to a total virtual platform. We hope to be back in the hybrid model within a week or two as soon as both the positivity and incidence rates decline.”

The county has seen a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases this week, with the state reporting 417 new cases from Oct. 16 through Friday. The Nanticoke ZIP code of 18634 was not spared in that surge, with 26 new cases reported for the week, the fifth highest increase among 41 codes all or partially in Luzerne County that the Times Leader checks regularly.

The GNA notice came hours after Lake-Lehman School District Superintendent James McGovern posted a letter saying the football game between Lake-Lehman and Tunkhannock scheduled for Friday night was cancelled after a student was determined to be a probable case of COVID-19. McGovern said there was not enough time to do “the necessary contact tracing” before the game, so it was cancelled “in an abundance of caution.”

Reporting confirmed cases in multiple buildings with a 14-day period, Wilkes-Barre Area School District stopped all lessons in schools beginning Oct. 19, and announced in-person lessons will not resume until Nov. 4. Wyoming Valley West School School District reported two students testing positive with COVID-19, then closed the high school Thursday and Friday. And The Pittston Area School Board voted Tuesday to drop plans to open in hybrid mode at the end of the first marking period and to stay in remote-only mode until Jan. 4.

According to the state’s early warning “dashboard” update released every Friday with county-level information, Luzerne county may have reached “substantial” community transmission status as defined by the state using several metrics, including positivity rate and incidence rate — how many tests come back positive and how many positives there are per 100,000 people. The state has not yet changed the county’s status.

The state Department of Education and Department of Health had worked out an advisory system that suggests schools should switch to full-remote learning if their county reaches substantial status, though each district works with the state to make those decisions.

10/22/2020
Nanticoke mom, 36, on road to recovery after lingering bump diagnosed as breast cancer
rdupuis@timesleader.com

For a long time, Nancy Potsko believed it was probably a cyst.
“This lump had been inside me for six-plus years,” the Nanticoke resident said during an interview this week.
After all, it moved around — as cysts can do — and a previous health care provider advised that the lump could be a cyst.
Earlier this year, Potsko was playing with her youngest child, who bumped the lump.
“The skin above it bruised,” she said. The bruising did not go away. And so she turned to her family doctor.
On Feb. 3, Potsko was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, a form of breast cancer in which the cancer has “invaded” or spread to the surrounding breast tissues, as breastcancer.org explains.
Just 36, Potsko this year has undergone a double mastectomy, reconstructive surgery, six rounds of chemotherapy and radiation treatment, with her last regular appointment set for the end of this month.
Potsko is among a relatively small group of Americans diagnosed with breast cancer under 40 — roughly 12,000 each year, according to the New York-based Young Survival Coalition. Such patients typically have not yet begun having mammograms, and often detect cancer themselves, as Potsko did.
“Nancy is a young woman, who felt a breast mass and it was discovered she had an abnormality,” said Dr. Jacqueline Oxenberg, a Geisinger surgical oncologist. “She’s actually younger than the age where we would typically screen women but fortunately, she felt something and brought it up to her provider, so our team was able to care for her.”
Understanding the possibility for invasive cancer to recur, Potsko said she opted for a double-mastectomy, and didn’t hesitate to communicate that to Oxenberg and her care team.
“I would say ‘just take them. Chuck them,’” Potsko said, explaining that she did not want to risk having a recurrence.
As Oxenberg explained, the tumor was partially aggressive, so it could have grown quickly and spread.
But, Potsko was also relieved to learn that implants were an option.
Oxenberg said she performed a bi-lateral nipple-sparing mastectomy. That is a procedure which allows for better cosmetic outcomes — including implants — and for many patients, an improved quality of life, the National Institutes of Health notes.
Every patient’s road to recovery is different. Potsko acknowledges that there have been difficult days, but that overall “I consider myself lucky with chemo.”
“I would be tired for two days, then bounce back to being myself,” she said.
With four children and a stepchild, ages 4 to 19, Potsko leads a busy life, but also said she never missed a youth sports game, and also is grateful for the way her family has rallied around her.
It was very much an emotional time for the family. Potsko’s brother, Nanticoke Mayor Rich Wiaterowski, died in late 2018 after a battle with acute myeloid leukemia. He was 45.
One of the things Potsko had to reassure her children about was that her cancer, and treatment, were “different from what Uncle Richie” went through.
“They were good through it all,” she said of her children.
What Potsko wants every woman to know, is how important it is to be aware of their bodies and their health, and never hesitate to have them checked out, voice any concerns with their doctors, and ask questions about their care and diagnosis.
“It’s your own body,” she said.
 

10/20/2020
GNA school returns to in-person classes 
Michael Buffer – Citizens Voice

Greater Nanticoke Area High School had in-person instruction Monday through its hybrid model for the first time since Oct. 9.
The school only had remote instruction last week because one student tested positive for COVID-19 case and 30 students were in quarantine. Most of those students can come back to school Friday because the 14-day quarantine period will be over then, school district Superintendent Ronald Grevera said Monday.
Greater Nanticoke Area began the school year in early September with a hybrid schedule that mixes in-person days and online days for two groups of students.
 

10/19/2020
Festival draws vendors, customers to Nanticoke
kcarroll@timesleader.com

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Dozens of vendors and prospective customers set up shop at West Side Park on Sunday afternoon for a Fall Harvest craft and vendor show.
The event was hosted by the West Side Club, with proceeds from basket raffles and instant bingo going to the club and toward keeping the playground up and running for the neighborhood kids.
Craft fairs are always a big hit around Luzerne County, especially during the fall; Sunday’s Fall Harvest show was no exception, as a steady stream of people made their way around the loop of tents to check out what was on sale.
As is typically the case, the items being sold varied substantially from tent to tent. Nail-painting supplies being sold next to smoked cheese, sweaters and books and all sorts of interesting trinkets.
One vendor, Nanticoke resident Pat Redline, had two unique items for sale at her table: Redline “smittens,” mittens lined with sweater fabric, and reading pillows — pillows with a little sleeve for books.
Redline said that she’d been selling the smittens for a couple of years, and wanted to try something different. A sign at her table informed customers that Sunday’s show would be her last selling the popular item.
“I had to stop selling them at one point because I couldn’t keep up with the demand,” Redline said. “They’ve been such a good seller, but I wanted to try something new.”
Sunday’s show was Redline’s first show with the reading pillows, and even in the early hours of the afternoon, she could tell that they would be a big hit.
“Now the children could take their books to bed with them,” Redline said. “Reading is so important at a young age.”
Young readers were also a part of the focus at Dawn L. Lubertowicz’s table. A local author with over a dozen published works of fiction, Lubertowicz had her books on display along with some homemade rice bags, which people could pack with ice and use for aches and pains.
“I’ve got them in all sorts of sizes and designs,” Lubertowicz said. “Some have straps for your ankle or your wrist.”
Lubertowicz describes her books as “fantasy fiction” geared mainly at young adults. She only started getting them published a few years ago, and has been prolific in her work.
“I’ve got five more books on the way,” Lubertowicz said.
Some other vendors included Serina Mitchell of Honesdale, selling her “reverse sweaters” — sweaters made with the designs on fabric underneath the outer layer of the sweater, and then cut out to show the design.
“I think I saw them on vacation somewhere, and thought it was a good idea,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell has been making the sweaters for almost 20 years, and had them available in both fall and Christmas colors.

10/18/2020
Volunteers spend the day cleaning up Nanticoke
The Nanticoke Conversation Club organized the cleanup of the Lower Broadway Street area.
WNEP Web Staff

A group of volunteers spent their day helping to clean up their community.

The Nanticoke Conversation Club organized the cleanup in conjunction with the city.

Volunteers cleaned up the area surrounding Lower Broadway Street.

They cleared out old mattresses, litter, and other garbage.

"We need to do something as an organization and as a city and come together and clean this place up! You come across the Nanticoke bridge, and our conservation sign is right there 'Welcome to Nanticoke!' and then you look through the woods a hundred yards, and there's piles of trash," explained club member Josh Ruminski. 

Volunteers were treated to coffee and doughnuts for their hard work.

10/16/2020
Greater Nanticoke Area approves support staff contract, with dissent
mguydish@timesleader.com

The Greater Nanticoke Area School Board approved a contract with the support staff union — representing about 150 secretarial, custodian, maintenance. cafeteria and paraprofessional staff — through June 30, 2024. But it drew immediate rebuke.
Board President Tony Prushinski voted against the contract, citing the many years some of the staff have worked for the district and saying he wanted it to be more generous. “We could have been a little more helpful.”
Other board members, particularly Ken James, agreed in voting no.
Several union members criticized the negotiation process. Marge Womelsdorf said the union negotiating committee did not get to meet with school board members, with only the union president and vice president and a union negotiator working on the deal. She also questioned why the union had to vote on the contract with so little information about the process.
Joan Wall criticized the size of the raises in the contract — 50 cents per hour the first two years, 60 cents the third year and 65 cents the fourth year. She complained that despite working more than two decades in the district, and working hard every day, the annual raises for the first two years remained the same as the previous year.
Solicitor Vito DeLuca advised board members and Superintendent Ron Grevera to limit comments. “All the board knew was that a majority of the union ratified a proposal. On my recommendation they are not making comments. We cannot control how you do things.”
The board also agreed to have AE7 conduct a football stadium feasibility study at a cost not to exceed $6,500. After the meeting Grevera said the district has grant money for upgrades, and the study will determine how best to spend that money.
The board approved the purchase of 24 Promethean ActivPanel Interactive displays — hi-tech white boards — from CDW-G for $47,171. Grevera said that will be paid with federal COVID-19 relief grant money.
 

10/12/2020
Nanticoke High School, W-B Tech Center go remote because of COVID-19 cases
Eric Mark – Citizens Voice

Two local schools will shift to remote-only learning this week because of positive COVID-19 test results.
Greater Nanticoke Area High School will move to virtual learning through Friday because of a positive COVID-19 test, according to an announcement at the district’s website.
Also, Wilkes-Barre Area Career and Technical Center will be on a full virtual schedule until Oct. 19 “due to a COVID-19 situation,” the Crestwood School District announced on the district’s Facebook page.
In addition, Dallas High School will move to online-only learning on Monday, according to district Superintendent Thomas Duffy.
The high school is the only school in the district impacted and the change is only in effect for Monday, Duffy said.

10/12/2020
COVID-19 case puts GNA High School into remote-only Tuesday through Friday
mguydish@timesleader.com

Greater Nanticoke Area School District is moving high school learning from hybrid to full remote this week, from Tuesday Oct. 13 through Friday Oct. 16, due to a positive COVID-19 case. The district had no classes scheduled for Monday, Columbus Day.
 

9/26/2020
New developments coming to Arena Hub Plaza 
Denise Allabaugh – Citizens Voice

 
When one door closes, another opens and that will soon be the case in the Arena Hub Plaza in Wilkes-Barre Twp.
The coronavirus pandemic led Pier I Imports to close all its stores, including its location in the Arena Hub Plaza, but another store soon will open in the building.
Gertrude Hawk Chocolates plans to open in January and will occupy about 35% of the closed Pier I Imports building, said Carolyn Hawk Horter, chairman of the board for Gertrude Hawk Chocolates.
The new store will replace another Gertrude Hawk location that closed in the Wyoming Valley Mall, Horter said. Gertrude Hawk also has another store nearby at 174 Mundy St. that will remain open, she said.
Prior to the new store opening, Gertrude Hawk will open a temporary pop-up location for the holidays in half of the building that formerly housed women’s plus-size retailer Avenue before it closed last year. The holiday pop-up store should open Nov. 1, Horter said.
In the other half of the closed Avenue building, Nanticoke residents John Beggs and Scott Brennan plan to open Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa in early to mid-November. A contractor is working on getting the building ready and Beggs said they are interviewing potential employees.
Robert Tamburro, trustee and General partner with TFP Limited, owner of the Arena Hub Plaza, said more developments also are coming near Mission BBQ on Mundy Street.
He has leased space next to Mission BBQ to Blaze Pizza, a Pasadena, Califorina-based fast-casual dining chain where customers can create their own pizza.
A Dollar Tree store is being constructed behind Mission BBQ and he said that likely will be completed in November.
“It has been a challenging year but we feel we have a very good lineup of tenants despite the pandemic. These tenants have been performing very well and we’re optimistic,” Tamburro said. “What’s interesting is almost all of the leases were signed during the pandemic and we feel encouraged about it.”
More developments also are planned on Route 315 in Plains Twp. An Xfinity store by Comcast should open in the spring next to FNCB Bank and a new cigar lounge called Bella Humidor will replace El Humidor in 315 Marketplace, he said.
Tamburro also has been negotiating with tenants who are interested in occupying the former Ashley Furniture site on Mundy Street.
“We’re monitoring our properties and making sure we’re doing everything we can to fill them with the best tenants we could possibly have,” he said. “There is some renewed optimism where things are headed. We’re in a better place than where we were.”

9/20/2020
School districts facing notification decisions involving student and employee COVID-19 cases
Michael P. Buffer  - Citizens Voice

​

School districts with in-person instruction are now dealing with what to do when a student, teacher or employee tests positive for COVID-19.

Dallas School District followed a plan that included notifying the state Department of Health when learning of its first COVID-19 case on Sept. 11. But district officials were not sure of what to disclose when informing parents, employees and the public.

Dallas learned of a second case Sept. 13 and had canceled after-school activities, including a football game, over that weekend. The district issued announcements about the first two COVID-19 cases but didn’t specify if students or employees tested positive and didn’t identify an impacted school building.

“I asked for a little bit of a legal review about the extent to which, what do we reveal and what don’t we reveal? Because at the end of the day, it’s people’s medical. It’s not an effort to be misleading,” Superintendent Thomas Duffy said Monday. “While we’re also attempting to keep our community well informed, we’re respecting the medical privacy of our stakeholders. Remember this stuff is really new to all of us.”

When Dallas announced its third case Wednesday, Duffy disclosed all three cases involved students, two from the intermediate school and one from the middle school. The state Department of Health conducted contact tracing to identify anyone else who may have been exposed.

Asked if the Department of Health has a guidance or standards on how school districts should notify the public of COVID-19 cases, spokesman Nate Wardle said “the schools will fulfill their safety plans to address the illness and virus in their communities, like done with measles, mumps, etc.”

The health department is currently not releasing COVID-19 case numbers at schools in the state and numbers of students and school employees who tested positive. The health department is working with the state Department of Education and school districts “on the best ways to communicate increases in school-aged children,” Wardle said.

“Obviously, it will take some time to link a case in a child to a school since there are different teaching models happening at the same time across the state,” Wardle said in an email.

The health department “will share case data among school-age children moving forward” by releasing the statewide case numbers among 5-18-year-olds in data released each Monday, Wardle said.

“Colleges are releasing data on their own in order to keep their communities informed,” Wardle said.

Many colleges in the state are tracking COVID-19 cases with online dashboards. In Luzerne County, King’s College, Wilkes University, Misericordia University and Luzerne County Community College are providing online updates of case totals of students and employees and the number of students and employees in quarantine.

The Pennsylvania State Education Association, the state teachers union, “supports legislation that ensures parents, employees, and other individuals associated with a school building are informed within 24 hours about any confirmed or presumptive cases of COVID-19 in their school,” PSEA spokesman Chris Lilienthal said.

PSEA hopes the legislation currently before the state House gets a final vote by the end of the month, Lilienthal said.

“Educators have been asking for clearer direction from the state level for months when it comes to informing a school community about cases of COVID-19, and this amendment ensures there is a statewide standard,” Lilienthal said in an email. “School districts would have the option of going beyond these requirements to meet the needs of their community.”

Dallas, Northwest Area and Greater Nanticoke Area school districts began the school year with hybrid schedules involving online and in-person instruction days. Wilkes-Barre Area and Lake-Lehman started with in-person classes five days a week for students who did not choose a cyber option.

Pittston Area, Hanover Area, Wyoming Valley West, Wyoming Area and Crestwood started with completely remote or online instruction.

Greater Nanticoke Area Superintendent Ronald Grevera said he is not aware of any district employees or students testing positive since the school year began. The district “would never release the names of staff or students who are positive” and would inform parents about “potential exposure of the virus,” Grevera said.

Greater Nanticoke Area has a plan for contact tracing “done through the use of seating charts in classrooms, cafeterias and school buses,” Grevera said.

“In the case of multiple exposures outside of a family, we would simply close the school for cleaning for the recommended period of time,” he added.

The Department of Education recommends canceling in-person classes for at least three days when there are two to four cases involving students and staff at a school over 14 days, or if the case total is less than 5% of the number of students and staff in a school. The recommendation is canceling in-person instruction for 14 days if it’s more than five cases, or the case total is at least 5% of the number of students and staff in a school.

Lake-Lehman has a plan to immediately contact the Luzerne Intermediate Unit 18 when a student or employee tests positive, and the state health department is notified to investigate and conduct contact tracing and then provides the district “with specific instructions on how to proceed in regards to quarantine or any other preventative measures,” Superintendent James McGovern said.

9/17/2020
Luzerne County makeup artist nominated for Emmy, again 
Mark Hiller - (WBRE/WYOU-TV)

NANTICOKE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU-TV) — An Emmy award-winning makeup artist from Nanticoke is nominated yet again for her work in Hollywood.
Patrick Stewart plays the lead role in the CBS All Access program “Star Trek: Picard.” But besides a talented cast, there is some behind-the-scenes talent that makes the show standout: the makeup.
“There is an amazing bunch of artists that I’ve worked with and it’s really a great honor you know to be with this team,” Natalie Thimm, an award-winning makeup artist and Nanticoke native, said. 
51-year-old Thimm is part of a five-member team nominated in the category “Outstanding Period And/Or Character Makeup (Non-Prosthetic) for the episode “Stardust City Rag.” She’s already experienced Emmy glory, winning for her makeup work on the former Comedy Central program “Key and Peele.” 
“2016 was my first nomination win which, you know, sometimes rarely happens,” said Thimm.
Nearly 3,000 miles back home, her family is overjoyed about her second nomination. 
“Oh my gosh. I said… I was ecstatic again and I was so happy for her,” said Diane Thimm, Natalie’s mother. 
“I’m so proud of her. She’s worked so hard all these years,” Terri Thimm, Natalie’s sister, said. 
Terri could tell growing up that her younger sister had a passion for what she’d eventually pursue as a grownup. 
“When we were little girls she would actually get these heads of little model heads from the 70s, we would have hair and makeup sessions with them,” Terri said.
Believe it or not, Natalie actually refined her skills in an auto-body shop. Her dad has got a background in that kind of thing and she learned how to airbrush that way. 
“I taught her and helped her anyway I could in that fact. Then the rest was up to her and she was persistent,” said Natalie’s father Frank Thimm. 
Now a veteran makeup artist of dozens of television shows and movies, the Greater Nanticoke Area High School and Empire Beauty School graduate is proof a small town kid can make it big.
“Don’t let anybody ever tell you, you can’t,” said Natalie.
 

9/12/2020
High school football fans want more access to games 
By Steve Mocarsky – Citizens Voice

 
The Friday night lights were lit and the players were on the field, but the season opener for high school football fans was far from traditional.
Missing from the field and the bleachers at the Greater Nanticoke Area stadium were the cheerleaders and the band. There were no fans waiting in line at the concession stand because it wasn’t open.
Only about 60 or so Trojans fans — primarily parents of the players — were seated in the bleachers on the home team side of the field for the 7 p.m. kickoff. The visitors’ bleachers contained one lone soul.
Because Gov. Tom Wolf set restrictions limiting any outdoor gatherings to 250 people or less to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, officials at Greater Nanticoke Area restricted attendance to only members of the team, coaches, referees, the media and two family members of each player.
The school district initially planned to allow the cheerleaders and band and their parents to attend as well, but that changed earlier Friday.
“There was a phone call that came from the district announcing it would just be the players, the necessary people on the field and the parents for the home team,” said Mike Zaremba, who with his wife, Megan, were the first people to find a seat in the home bleachers Friday night and were there to see their son, Braden, a junior and starting tackle for the Trojans.
“I think it should be at least 500 (allowed to attend an outdoor sporting event). I think that would easily take care of the players, the cheerleaders, the band, and all their parents. It would allow the visiting team to have the same luxury,” Mike Zaremba said.
And those are the people who most deserve to attend, he added.
“They’re the ones who have the investment of their children being involved in extracurricular activities and the kids who put all the time throughout the summer should be able to play and perform in front of the fans,” Zaremba said.
Larry and Jill Kochanski, whose son Jonathan is a defensive end for the Trojans, said they were just happy to be at the game, given that many other school districts won’t allow any fans to attend, including players’ parents.
“I just hope they pass the bill to allow school districts to decide how many people can attend,” Larry Kochanski said.
The state Legislature passed a bill to put the decision in the hands of school districts, but Wolf has said he would veto it.
Jill Kochanski said their daughter Lily, Jonathan’s sister and “biggest cheerleader,” was disappointed she couldn’t attend with them. She showed up at all of her brother’s games last year with her pom poms and even the official cheerleaders recognized her.
While most fans couldn’t be inside the stadium, many sat in folding chairs, on tailgates or in their vehicles in an upper-level parking lot next to the field to support the Trojans.
Albert Brown, who was there to see his punter grandson, Owen Brown, play, said he thinks limiting attendance is necessary, but band members and cheerleaders should be allowed in rather than only players’ parents.
Three senior cheerleaders sitting nearby on the hillside agreed.
“The seniors should get their last experience because we’re not going to be able to do this again,” said Mikayla Sogchak.
“They care more about parents than they do students,” added Cameron Turak.
“It’s our year. It’s unfair,” Arianna Ruzanski chimed in. “I feel like we’ve been waiting for this all year.”
 

9/11/2020
Greater Nanticoke Area OKs purchase of 600 Chromebooks
Board also approves more unpaid leave, refinancing
Mark Guydish - Citizens Voice

In a brief meeting held in the high school auditorium with rows of seats taped off for social distancing, the Greater Nanticoke Area School Board approved the purchase of 600 Chromebook computers, more unpaid leave for the COVID-19 pandemic, a meal distribution plan for students, and some refinancing.
In response to a question after all the voting, Superintendent Ron Grevera said the district intends to allow parents — but only parents — of athletes to attend sporting events. He said that should allow the spectators to maintain social distancing and keep the total number of people at an event under the 250 limit set by Gov. Tom Wolf.
The Chromebook purchase is from GDC I.T. solutions for a total of $147,434. The cost is covered by federal COVID-19 grant money. The purchase is retroactive to Aug. 14, but is through the Pennsylvania Educational Purchasing Program for Microcomputers, or PEPPM, designed to save districts and other agencies money by allowing them to skip the bidding process by piggybacking on state-awarded contracts.
The added unpaid leave is for district support staff union members. A Memorandum Of Understanding, or MOU, allows unpaid leave for this school year for COVID-19 without setting a precedent for future years. Along with approving the MOU, the board approved unpaid leave for four special education aides.
Grevera said some of the older support staff have concerns about potential exposure to COVID-19, and the MOU gave them the ability to take unpaid leave. He also said the district should be able to handle the reduction in support staff because only about half the students are in school at any time under the hybrid system being used.
Grevera announced the meal distribution plan at the start of the meeting. It is designed to ensure that students get meals when they are learning at home in the hybrid system, which is three days a week for most students. Group A attends in person Monday and Tuesday while Group B attends Thursday and Friday, with all students learning online Wednesday.
All students are eligible for free breakfast and lunch until Dec. 31. Distributions will start next week at the bus port in the high school for students who are virtual. On Mondays Group B can pick up two days worth of meals from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. On Thursdays Group A can pick up meals, also 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. All students can pick up meals on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to noon.
The refinancing was approved without explanation. After the meeting, Grevera said it will save the district money, but didn’t have exact figures on hand.

9/11/2020
GNA school year extended because of water main break
Eric Mark - Citizens Voice

Greater Nanticoke Area Superintendent Ronald Grevera said the last day of school will be pushed back because of a water main break that delayed the opening of school last week.
The last day of school for Greater Nanticoke Area School District students will be pushed back because of a water main break that delayed the opening of school last week.
The school year is now scheduled to end on June 11, 2021, district Superintendent Ronald Grevera announced at Thursday’s meeting of the district school board.
The water main break pushed back the first day of classes for district students from Aug. 31 to Sept. 8.
Also, in response to a question from the father of a student-athlete, Grevera said that parents will be allowed to watch their children participate in athletic events. He said there has been some confusion over the district’s policy.

9/3/2020

Nanticoke Boil Advisory Lifted

Kevin Carroll - Times Leader

NANTICOKE — Pennsylvania American Water announced late Wednesday night that the boil water advisory put in place after Monday’s water main break has been lifted.

The was in effect for Nanticoke, Newport Township and the Dundee section of Hanover Township.

According to the water company’s press release, acceptable tests results were obtained from samples collected during testing done on Tuesday and Wednesday. As a result, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has authorized the advisory to be lifted.

9/3/2020

First Day of school for Greater Nanticoke Area students pushed back to Tuesday
Michael Buffer - Citizens Voice

Greater Nanticoke Area schools will now open this Tuesday for students because of Monday’s water main break.
Pennsylvania American Water announced Tuesday that repairs to fix the 18-inch water main in Nanticoke were completed. But a boil water advisory remained in effect Wednesday in Nanticoke, and that affects kitchen and cafeteria operations for Greater Nanticoke Area schools, Superintendent Ronald Grevera said.
Monday was supposed to be the first day of the new school year for Greater Nanticoke Area students, but the water main break prevented that. Luzerne County Community College opened its Nanticoke campus Wednesday.
On Wednesday, Grevera was still hoping schools could open Thursday. But on Wednesday night, he made the decision to start Tuesday, the day after the Labor Day holiday.
Greater Nanticoke Area’s reopening plan is a hybrid with in-person instruction and online and remote instruction. Students will be split into two groups with one group physically going to class Monday and Tuesday and the other group going Thursday and Friday.
The school district plans to completely clean and sanitize its buildings on Wednesday and over the weekend.
“I had one of the better plans,” Grevera said. “I want to get going.”
Gov. Tom Wolf closed all schools in the state March 16 to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, and schools finished the 2019-20 academic year providing online and remote education to all students. The state Department of Education is allowing local decisions on reopening schools for the 2020-21 school year.
“When we closed last year in March, we were kind of scrambling to some extent,” Grevera said. “This year, the fact that the kids are coming in two days in person, that’s going to help significantly.”
Around 70% of Greater Nanticoke Area students will come to school two days a week, and 20% will will have a virtual learning five days a week, Grevera said. Another 10% will learn through the district’s cyber program.
The two groups will be divided alphabetically by last name. Exceptions include allowing children in the same household with different last names to stay in the same group.
“The high school is going to be a bit tougher than the other buildings because kids have to change classes here and things like that,” Grevera said. “They have to social distance. They have to wear their mask in the hall.”
Desks are set up to be at least 6 feet apart to meet COVID-19 mitigation guidelines. Greater Nanticoke Area has been planning its hybrid approach since July 9.
“I was thinking right from the beginning that I was looking at the 6 foot rule,” Grevera said. “I figured that wasn’t going to change. ... If it was 3 or 4 feet, I could bring all the kids back, but I realized it was probably not going to be 3 or 4 feet. They were stressing 6 feet, so this is what we planned from the beginning.”
Pittston Area, Hanover Area, Wyoming Valley West, Wyoming Area and Crestwood decided in August that their schools will start the upcoming school year with completely remote or online instruction.
"The only glitch is right now we’re having a very difficult time securing Chromebooks from vendors,” Grevera said. “Every school across the country is trying to secure them.”
Greater Nanticoke Area hopes to receive around 1,200 Chromebooks by October, and then every student in the district will have one. Around 1,100 Chromebooks have already been distributed to district students.
“What we have done so far is try to focus on our economically disadvantaged kids first,” Grevera said.
Inside Greater Nanticoke Area schools, water fountains were shut down, and water coolers have been set up.
“The only exceptions to the masking rule is if the student has some kind of chronic medical issue, that is put in writing by the physician,” Grevera said. “One good thing about coming back to school is the importance of us teaching the kids that anywhere you go publicly this year, you’re going to have to comply with these rules. You can’t go into the supermarket without a mask.”
Because students will be split into two groups, the maximum number of desks in each classroom will be 14, and physical education classes will not include typical activities, Grevera said.
“It’s going to be a lot of health this year, handwashing, hygiene, health,” Grevera said.

9/1/2020
Water main break repaired, customers advise to continue boil water in Nanticoke area
Classes cancelled at Greater Nanticoke Area, LCCC
 elewis@timesleader.com

Bernie Watkins of South Hanover Street said people take running water for granted.
Watkins was one of many people filling jugs with water at a water tanker in the Weis Market parking lot Tuesday morning.
“Having no water in your home, it’s tough,” Watkins said. “Especially flushing the toilet and taking a shower. When the water runs, no problem but you sure do miss it when it doesn’t come out of the faucet.”
For the second day in a row, classes were cancelled at Greater Nanticoke Area and Luzerne County Community College due to a water main break of an 18-inch line in Lower Broadway. The break was discovered early Monday morning.
Greater Nanticoke Area has also cancelled classes for Wednesday, according to a post on the district’s website.
Susan Turcmanovich, external affairs manager for Pennsylvania American Water, said Tuesday crews have repaired the broken water main overnight.
“At this time, we are restoring service to customers and flushing the system to eliminate discolored water. As a reminder, the boil water advisory remains in effect until further notice for customers in Nanticoke, Newport Township and the Dundee section of Hanover Township,” Turcmanovich stated in an email.
Many fire hydrants in the area were opened to flush the water lines. 
Water tankers will remain in the Weis Market parking lot, Nanticoke City Fire Department Headquarters and Honey Pot Fire Department, Opplinger Towers, Nanticoke Towers, Park Towers and Birchwood Nursing Home.

9/1/2020
Water main break fixed in Nanticoke 
Staff Report – Citizens Voice

A crew from Pennsylvania American Water asembles near the area of a water main break in Nanticoke Monday morninf forcing many people fill gallon jugs with water from a water buffalo on Market Street and other locations in Nanticoke Monday morning due to a 18-inch water main break in olwer Broadway that forced Greater Nanticoke Area School District to cancel its first day of school on Monday. Greater Nanticoke Area Superintendent Ron Grevera, who stood outside the high school early Monday morning with principal Valerie Bartle wearing masks, said a number of preparations were put in place to keep students and staff safe as the district was about to launch hybrid classes The water main break led Luzerne County Community College to close as well. Mark Moran cv090120wathermainbreakp2
Repairs to fix an 18-inch water main in Nanticoke were completed overnight, officials from Pennsylvania American Water announced.
The company is restoring service and flushing the system to eliminate discolored water.
The boil water advisory remains in effect until further notice for about 5,000 customers in Nanticoke, Newport Twp. and the Dundee section of Hanover Twp.
Pennsylvania American Water has water tankers available to residents impacted by the break.
Locations include:
•    Oplinger Towers
•    Nanticoke Towers
•    Park Towers
•    Birchwood Nursing Home
•    Nanticoke Fire Department headquarters
•    Honey Pot Fire Department
•    Weis Market in Nanticoke
Classes at Greater Nanticoke Area were canceled Tuesday and Wednesday because of the break. The school is planning to open Thursday.
Luzerne County Community College remained closed Tuesday because of the water main break.
 

9/1/2020
Water main break in Nanticoke affects first day of classes 
Denise Allabaugh – Citizens Voice

 
NANTICOKE — An 18-inch water main break forced Greater Nanticoke Area School District to cancel its first day of school on Monday.
Greater Nanticoke Area Superintendent Ron Grevera, who stood outside the high school early Monday morning with principal Valerie Bartle wearing masks, said a number of preparations were put in place to keep students and staff safe as the district was about to launch hybrid classes.
Grevera said he was disappointed when he received the phone call at 5 a.m. about the water main break.
“We were very disappointed that they couldn’t come back today. It was a very unfortunate situation,” he said. “Because water was cut off to the school, we can’t have school with no water.”
Pennsylvania American Water officials said customers in Nanticoke, Newport Twp., the Hanover section of Nanticoke and the Dundee section of Hanover Twp. experienced low water pressure or no water as a result of the 18-inch water main break on Broadway Street.
Just after 9:30 p.m. Monday, Pennsylvania American Water spokeswoman Susan Turcmanovich said workers would be replacing the broken 18-inch pipe overnight.
“We anticipate completing those repairs overnight and restoring service to customers by morning. The boil water advisory remains in effect for all customers and water tankers will be available,” she said.
The water main break led Luzerne County Community College to close as well.
Students in Greater Nanticoke Area School District have not been to school in person since mid-March as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic that shut down schools.
Greater Nanticoke Area was going to be the second school district in Luzerne County to hold its first day of school Monday with some students returning in person until the water main break changed those plans.
Hybrid classes started at Dallas School District on Wednesday. Hanover Area School District started its first day of school on Monday online.
Grevera said three high school students showed up on Monday and he and Bartle told them that the school was closed as a result of the water main break.
“We were one of the districts going back and we were ready to go,” Grevera said.
Later Monday, Grevera said he heard school might not start until Thursday with group B returning but he was waiting for confirmation.
Pennsylvania American Water officials said a boil water advisory was issued for customers in Nanticoke, Newport Twp. and the Dundee section of Hanover Twp. due to low water levels in a storage tank caused by the broken 18-inch water main.
According to Pennsylvania American Water, a loss of positive water pressure is a signal of conditions that could allow contamination to enter the distribution system. As a result, there is an increased chance that the water could contain disease-causing organisms.
Pennsylvania American Water officials advised customers in Nanticoke, Newport Twp. and the Dundee section of Hanover Twp. should not drink the water without boiling it first.
Boiled or bottled water also should be used for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth and preparing food until further notice, they said.
Turcmanovich recommended everyone follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for hand hygiene and social distancing when using the water filling stations.
Pennsylvania American Water has water tankers available to residents impacted by the break.
Locations include:
•    Oplinger Towers
•    Nanticoke Towers
•    Park Towers
•    Birchwood Nursing Home
•    Nanticoke Fire Department headquarters
•    Honey Pot Fire Department
•    Weis Market in Nanticoke

8/31/2020
Fundraiser provides free school supplies for families, helps local church 

NANTICOKE, LUZERNE CO. (WOLF) —

Families from all over the tri-state area stopped by the former K.M. Smith Elementary School in Nanticoke today to grab some free school supplies all while helping out a Wilkes-Barre church at the same time.
A fundraiser also attempted to help fix the roof of the Moving River Ministries The pastor tells FOX56 he’s been meaning to replace the roof since the spring from storm damage. 
“Our church was in need of a roof. The windstorm that came through our area the day after Easter, did tremendous damage to the roof of our church. We were in the process of doing a fundraiser for our roof and this, the proceeds are going towards that," said Pastor Adam McGahee. 
Pastor McGahee says he needs $27,000 to replace it. 
“There’s not a contractor around that will actually do a repair on a slate roof so they’re recommending that it’s replaced.," said Pastor Adam. 
Some of that was raised today during a fundraiser at the former K.M. Smith Elementary School – which closed its doors two years ago after relocating.
Parents from northeastern Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey showed up to score everything from desks and chairs to shelves and books
“We are just so thankful that this stuff was not just discarded, and that someone did step in you know and make these things available.” 
Carmen Tinson of Wilkes-Barre told us about her daughter, who’s trying to start a new daycare center greatly appreciated the supplies that she could not afford.
“Any donation helps, especially during a time of a pandemic like this where people have to stay home with their children. They have to set it up like a school environment," said Tinson. 
“She got tables, chairs, baby tables, easles, chalkboards, posters, like I think it set the daycare up. Basically everything that was needed is there. It’s just a miracle, of God, it definitely was a blessing, today.”
Still, a new roof has yet to be replaced for those who worship at Moving River Ministries.
“Stay tuned, because we live up to our name. we are an organization that is very community oriented and we like doing things that are going to help other people," said Pastor Adam. 
There’s no word on how much money was raised to help the roof repair project from today's fundraiser.
To learn more on how you can help Moving River Ministries https://www.movingriverministries.com/