Lutz said thanks to the efforts of Cathy Fletcher, a Kulpmont resident and Mount Carmel Area senior, the library has more than 700 new books.

Lutz started the free neighborhood lending library last summer after being inspired by a news story about a similar project elsewhere. An avid reader, Lutz originally used books from his own collection and set them out for anyone to borrow for free. Others have since donated to the cause.

This spring, he sent letters to some 100 people asking if they have a favorite author or book to drop him a letter and convey what reading has meant to them. Anyone can do so by writing the Kulpmont Free Lending Library, 860 Oak St., Kulpmont 17834. Lutz plans on posting whatever responses he gets in an effort to generate interest in reading.

The library is available as long as the sun shines from Sunday through Labor Day.

Outside, children laughed while an adult pushed them on the merry-go round and other kids played kickball on the field. Inside, their parents and teachers and relatives thumbed through the pages of old yearbooks and admired framed black-and-white photographs of classes from long ago.

By this time next week, Leck Kill Elementary School will be closed for good.

The 61 students of the 13,350-square-foot school at 3664 Old State Road will be attending classes in the newly named Line Mountain Elementary School in Trevorton next school year.

Hard to leave

At a farewell picnic Friday afternoon, teachers and parents were sad about the school's closure, but also hopeful for the future.

"When you start talking about the memories, the tears start to flow. I've driven home many nights with tears coming down," said fourth-grade teacher Lee Ann Bobb, who has been teaching at the school for 36 years.

"It's going to be hard leaving. I understand why (Leck Kill is closing), but it's still going to be hard," said second-grade teacher Roy Casey, who has been teaching at the school for 35 years. "I grew up in this valley. I'm related to half the valley. Leaving for the last time will be hard."

"It hasn't completely hit me yet," said Kristy Boyer, Leck Kill Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) treasurer.

Wednesday will mark the last day the elementary schools in Leck Kill and Dalmatia are open before they will be permanently shut down.

In the 2013-14 school year, all students in grades kindergarten through fourth will attend classes at Trevorton, where an addition is being constructed. An addition is also being built to the seventh- and eighth-grade wing at the junior/senior high school in Mandata to accommodate fifth- and sixth-graders.

Indoor picnic

On Friday, the rainy weather chased much of the event inside, and plans for a bounce house were nixed. By early afternoon, the weather had cleared up and students were allowed outside on the playground equipment and field.

Inside, Troutman Food Service catered the meal for students, employees and parents and relatives. Two farewell cakes were served. Students watched movies and made sand art while their parents and relatives socialized and waxed nostalgic. Some families set up their picnic blankets on the floor to enjoy their meals together.

Each student was given a gift bag of prizes, Casey said.

As head teacher, Casey set up a small table with old yearbooks and photographs of the current and former classes of Leck Kill.

Casey, 56, went to fifth grade at the school, and his mother graduated from the building when it was a high school.

When Bobb was hired 36 years ago, she was told by the superintendent that he was going to place her in Leck Kill for one year and let her decide whether she was going to continue to teach there.

When the school year ended, the superintendent asked her if she wanted to be transferred. Her response: "Absolutely not."

"It's very community oriented. It's very family oriented," Bobb said. "We're a team here. It's like one big family. The children get to know you, you get to know them. There's a sense of comfort and safety."

Denise Ferster, of Dornsife, attended the school as a child and her daughter, Jaya London, is finishing up third grade there. Her grandmother graduated from the building when it was a high school.

"It's such a small knit community. The kids get a lot of one-on-one time," she said.

Her two oldest daughters - who attended Leck Kill and are high school students now - had a rough time when they heard the elementary school is closing.

Judy Snyder, of Dornsife, was a student from kindergarten through fifth grade at Leck Kill, and now she has two children - fourth grader Nathan Snyder, 9, and second grader Rachel Snyder, 8 - who will be leaving Leck Kill for Trevorton next year.

"It's sad," Snyder said. "It's small here. The teachers know the parents and kids. It's a nice area and all our neighbors are here."

Her 6-year-old daughter, Laura Snyder, was one of the four students enrolled in kindergarten at Leck Kill who were transferred to Trevorton this year. Her youngest daughter, 4-year-old Mary Snyder, is not yet in school.

Transition programs

Nathan Snyder said he is "a little scared" about the changes (he'll be going to the high school building next year to take classes in the fifth and sixth grade wing currently being constructed), but said he liked the transition methods the school administration had implemented.

Elementary Principal Jeanne Menko said the events to help students transition and build a sense of unity over the last few months have been successful.

"I give a lot of credit to the teachers. They put a lot of time and effort and energy into making it work. They put the kids first," she said.

Students at each grade level from Dalmatia and Leck Kill visited Trevorton to meet their teachers, experience lunch at the cafeteria and tour the building. Activities were held throughout the day for students to meet others in their grade.

"I have seen so many smiles on students as they came to tour the buildings. We made sure to get them all here and see their classmates," she said.

Each student was assigned a pen pal from another school earlier this year, and were introduced to them when they visited the school, she said.

Each class that visited Trevorton made items they'll see next year: in one grade, all students made a puzzle piece and it will put together with their grade level next school year. Another grade made leaves and they will be placed on a tree.

Also, a picture was taken of each grade level for every student to take home with them, she said.

At the various field day events, the students were placed on various teams for different activities, but not by school, she said.

Even the elementary yearbook this year was changed. The history, traditions and memories of each of the three elementary schools were featured in the book, but the classes were only separated by grade levels and teachers, not buildings.

On to Trevorton

While the last day for elementary students is Wednesday, the last official day for teachers is Monday, June 3. They will work quickly after the final school day to move the items to their new classrooms at the Trevorton building, she said.

Boyer said the PTO will supply meals for teachers while they pack their classrooms up next week.

During the summer, Menko said Trevorton will be open for a summer reading program for students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade.

There will be no change in the number of teaching staff for the upcoming school year. Each grade level - with the exception of first grade, which will have four classes - will have five classes each.

This past school year, for kindergarten through fourth grade, there were 61 students at Leck Kill, 211 students at Trevorton and 202 students at Dalmatia. There were also 201 students in fifth and sixth grades at Trevorton.

'Tugs at your heart'

Friday's farewell picnic had a great turnout and was a nice celebration, Menko said.

Her emotions are mixed.

"When talking to the kids, one will have a smile, and another one will have a tear. It tugs at your heart," she said.

While there are always challenges in new ideas, Menko said she has confidence the consolidation will work due to the way teachers, students and community members came together.

"This is sad, but we'll be OK," she said.

Region 1 Director Lamont Masser, who represents Herndon, Little Mahanoy Township, Upper Mahanoy Township, Lower Augusta Township and Washington Township, said he was proud to see such community support one last time at the building.

"I'm sure the kids will do well no matter where they're at. The kids have an easier time with transition than parents do," he said. "I hope we have some level of community involvement in the other buildings as we experienced here."

Masser has consistently voted against consolidation in the past.

While Bobb is sad to go, she also admitted she is excited to be able to work with the other fourth-grade teachers in the elementary school.

"Things change. You have to make the best of it. You adapt, move on and find something positive in it," she said.

Dalmatia's farewell

The staff and students at Dalmatia Elementary School will be having their own final event. A picture presentation and parade around the school will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Joseph Drost, 23, of 1025 Chestnut St., was attacked at about 11:45 a.m. by a Rottweiler named Junior owned by Cindy Santore, 45, of 217 Third St., Ranshaw. Police said the dog bit Drost in the forehead, causing two deep puncture wounds that may require stitches. Police reported the dog may have to be quarantined.

Coal Township Police Chief William Carpenter said the attack occurred along Route 61 near Palmer's Diner after Drost stopped his Jeep in an attempt to prevent the canine and another Rottweiler from running onto the busy highway.

Carpenter charged Santore with a misdemeanor of recklessly endangering another person and a summary of allowing her dog to run at large, which violates a township ordinance.

Santore's daughter, Cynthia Hippenstiel, 22, of 211 Third St., Ranshaw, who owns the other Rottweiler found along Route 61, was cited for allowing her dog to run loose through the east end of the township at 10:44 a.m. Friday. She was cited for the same offense Nov. 5.

Ignored warnings

In his criminal complaint filed against Santore, Carpenter said both women have been warned multiple times about their dogs' aggressive behavior, which poses a threat to residents. But the chief said Santore and Hippenstiel have ignored the warnings.

He said the dogs have attacked other canines and one of the Rottweilers previously bit a Ranshaw man and hung onto him while the man attempted to get inside his home. That victim refused to press charges against Santore or Hippenstiel, Carpenter said.

In a police affidavit, Carpenter said he issued an order to his officers not to hesitate to shoot Santore's dog if they saw it running at large.

Carpenter said the vicious dogs both weigh at least 120 pounds.

Carpenter said Chad Brokenshire called police at about 10:45 a.m. to report two large Rottweilers running east on Tioga Street near Route 901. Upon investigating, Carpenter determined the dogs belonged to Hippenstiel and Santore. Hippenstiel told Carpenter she was trying to find her dog after discovering that it left her yard. While the chief was talking to Hippenstiel at her home, a passing motorist stopped and informed them that a Rottweiler had just bitten a man in the face near Palmer's Diner.

When Carpenter arrived at the scene of the attack, he discovered Drost had two deep puncture wounds in his forehead. The chief said both Rottweilers were found in Drost's Jeep before being taken home by Hippenstiel and her mother.

The Coal Township Tax Office will be closed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and will reopen Thursday.

The Shamokin Tax Office will be closed Monday only. (A report in Friday's edition incorrectly stated the office would also be closed Tuesday and Wednesday. The Shamokin Tax Office will be open on those days.)

Official count continues Tuesday

SUNBURY - The official count of votes cast in the primary for magisterial district judge in the Milton area confirmed Friday that Mike Diehl won the Democratic nomination by three votes over Lisa A. Riley. Diehl was also nominated on the Republican ticket.

Alisha Herb, Northumberland County director of elections, said that because of that close judge race, the official count concentrated first on the 108th legislative district. The official count of the vote in the 107th district (the Shamokin-Mount Carmel area) will take place Tuesday.

EITC information session planned

SHAMOKIN - Our Lady of Lourdes Alumni Foundation will host an informational session at Harry's Grill, 14 N. Market St., at 6 p.m. Thursday, for this year's Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program that netted more than $246,000 for Lourdes in 2012.

Business officials are invited to join Lourdes staff and foundation representatives to learn how they can take advantage of the program that involves contributions to Lourdes in exchange for business tax credits.

ANNVILLE - The Memorial Council of the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery will present the 31st Memorial Day program at 2 p.m. Sunday. The event will be held rain or shine at the Pennsylvania Veterans Memorial at the National Cemetery. Retired Lt. Col. Nicholas M. Taylor will deliver the keynote address. For further information, call (717) 865-5254 or (610) 927-3887.

COAL TOWNSHIP/SHAMOKIN - Memorial Day March and Veterans Salute, 9 a.m. Monday organized by the Joint Area Veterans Organizations, the Shamokin and Coal Township fire departments and the Shamokin and Coal Township police departments. Wreath placements will take place at four stops. Ends at Price of Freedom Memorial, Lincoln Street, Shamokin, with a service. Public, other organizations invited to join in walk or at service. Participants are asked to meet at 8 a.m. at the start of the march near the playground on Arch and Locust streets in Coal Township. Call John Schenewerk at 644-1349 for more details.

IRISH VALLEY - Clark's Grove United Methodist Church will conduct its 31st annual veterans memorial service at 10:10 a.m. Sunday. The service features a cross composed of more than 100 live carnations. Every veteran attending the service will receive a carnation. Andrew W. Haas, retired from the U.S. Air Force after six years of service, including in Iraq, will be the guest speaker.

KULPMONT - Participants in the parade and memorial service at Roosevelt Court on Monday are asked to meet at 9 a.m. at the American Legion Post 231. They will be transported to the VFW home on Chestnut Street for initial pick-up and then proceed to St. Casimir's, St. Mary's and the Protestant cemeteries for graveside services honoring deceased veterans. At 10:30 a.m., parade participants will form at the American Legion grounds, Ninth and Ash streets. The parade will begin promptly at 11 a.m. and proceed to Roosevelt Court for a ceremony.

MOUNT CARMEL - Memorial Day Mass, 9:15 a.m. Sunday at SS Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church, Avenue and Beech Street. Veterans and members of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary and Knights of Columbus Bishop Lawrence F. Schott Assembly 959 will meet at 9 a.m. at the church. The Very Rev. Archpriest Michael Hutsko will officiate.

MOUNT CARMEL - As part of its Memorial Day weekend services, the Mount Carmel Area Joint Veterans will hold a Changing of the Colors at 1 p.m. Sunday at Second and Oak streets in Mount Carmel. This ceremony will be in honor and memory of Lt. George P. Parry, who was a veteran of the Civil War.

MOUNT CARMEL - Program will begin at 8:15 a.m. at the American Legion Post 91, Avenue and Maple Street. Wreaths will be placed at the memorials dedicated to Mount Carmel veterans who died in war. Participants are to be present by 8 a.m. Those assembled will then form on Maple Street for a parade. Any group or organization wishing to march in the parade should be there for 8:15 a.m. It will move shortly after that and include stops at St. Mary's Cemetery in Beaverdale, Mount Carmel Cemetery, St. Joseph Cemetery, Locust Gap.

SHAMOKIN - Coal Township Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 317 will collect worn American flags at its booth, No. 64, at the corner of Market and Spruce streets, during today's Anthracite Heritage Festival of the Arts. The VFW welcomes festival-goers to bring their flags. The VFW organizes and conducts a ceremony on Flag Day each year to carry out proper disposal of the flags.

STONINGTON - Northumberland Memorial Park, second annual Memorial Day observance, noon to 12:30 p.m. Monday immediately after the Sunbury Memorial Day Parade. This year's observance will feature a procession of World War II and Korean War vehicles including a half-track, 1942 Dodge weapons carrier, 1944 Dodge command car and 1952 M38ai Jeep through the memorial park. The procession will be escorted by Sunbury Chief of Police Steven Mazzeo, and a color guard will be provided by American Legion Post 201.

Area youth aged 11 to 17 are eligible to become fire cadets for the weekend and receive hands-on training from career professionals such as state fire instructors, state and local police and more.

Training will be provided in fire investigation, search and rescue, vehicle rescue, fire science and hose advancement, ropes and rigging, CPR and first aid, hazardous materials and fire extinguishers.

Class size is limited to 30 cadets and early registration is encouraged.

Call Harvey Boyer, assistant chief of Elysburg Fire Department, at 274-5091 to register or for more information.

The 2012-13 elementary school yearbook features a brief history of the Leck Kill Elementary School as well as the elementary schools at Dalmatia and Trevorton.

In 1924, the school board of Upper Mahanoy Township built the Leck Kill Oddfellows Lodge, which was attended by 16 students. Over the next two years, enrollment doubled and a new building was needed.

By 1927, the new building, which is the current structure at 3664 Old State Road, was constructed and named the Pine Park High School. By 1949, the one-room schoolhouse without electricity or running water was renovated and renamed the Leck Kill Elementary School.

After 1959, kindergarten was first established at the school, and students attended kindergarten through fifth grade there.

LM is born

In 1966, Mahanoy Joint and Trevorton districts merged to form Line Mountain as part of the Pennsylvania School District Reorganization Act of 1963, a mandated initiative to combine smaller school districts into larger schools in the interest of cost efficiency and better educational opportunities.

At the time of the jointure, the former Mahanoy Joint High School became Line Mountain High School and the former Trevorton High School was converted to a middle school. Leck Kill was one of the four elementary schools in the district at the time in addition to West Cameron, Dalmatia and Trevorton. West Cameron Elementary School closed in 2001.

In 2003, a temporary addition was put on Leck Kill to accommodate sixth grade.

In 2007, due to intense community opposition, the school board voted to keep the three elementary schools open and renovate each building.

It cost $9.6 million to renovate the high school in Mandata and add a seventh- and eighth-grade wing in 2009, $7.4 million to renovate Trevorton Elementary School in 2009 and $1.1 million to renovate Leck Kill Elementary School in 2010.

With continued increases in salaries due to contract negotiations, the district's contributions to health care and pension benefits and general operating expenses, combined with a governor's budget announced in 2011 that would take state subsidy back to 2007-08 level funding, Superintendent Dave Campbell said it made sense to explore the consolidation option again.

It was decided last year to close Leck Kill and Dalmatia elementary schools at the end of the 2012-13 school year, and send those students to Trevorton Elementary.

Trevorton Elementary School will be renamed Line Mountain Elementary School.

Those wanting to purchase a banner, which includes the name and photo of a veteran, can do so until Wednesday, June 5. If CBC gets 10 new requests it will place an order with the plan that the banners would be hanging in time for July 4.

The cost is the same as those that were placed on poles in Shamokin's downtown earlier this month: $200.

Interested parties can contact Angie Arnold, at 648-6294 or no1nurse@ptd.net for an application.

The banners will hang until after Veterans Day. They will then be returned to their sponsors, but can be hung again next year for an additional $50.

A male resident of West Arch Street, who did not want to be identified, informed The News-Item Friday morning that Rodney and Donna Hughes also made an effort to alert Patrick Fetterman and his girlfriend, Laura Gemberling, of 1237 W. Arch St., about the fire that started shortly before 2 a.m. in the first floor of an unoccupied house at 1239 W. Arch St.

The man who commended the couple for their assistance said Rodney Hughes suffered a broken ankle while jumping over a fence in his effort to alert neighbors about the fire. It was confirmed that Hughes underwent emergency room treatment Thursday at Geisinger-Shamokin Area Community Hospital before being released, and police had also heard about Hughes being injured. The Hughes could not be contacted directly.

"It's a shame Rodney got hurt, but he and his wife are good people who were trying to help their neighbors. I just want them to get credit for their actions," the neighbor said.

Coal Township Patrolmen Edward Purcell and Joshua Wynn kicked in doors at 1237 W. Arch St. and 1235 W. Arch St., which is inhabited by Anita Robel, and roused the sleeping occupants.

State Police Fire Marshal Kirk Renn of the Milton station inspected the fire scene Thursday afternoon, but was unable to determine a cause. Renn, who did not rule out the fire being suspicious, has turned over the investigation to Coal Township police.

Coal Township Police Chief William Carpenter said Detective Jeff Brennan has been assigned the investigation. "Jeff is checking out leads and continuing to conduct interviews," Carpenter said Friday. "There's really no other information to release at this time."

Quincy Bryant, of 210 Main St., was arraigned at 11:30 a.m. Friday by Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III on felonies of burglary and criminal trespass and a misdemeanor of loitering and prowling at night in connection with the intrusion shortly before midnight at the residence of Melissa Vettenberg and her daughter, Deana, of 537 Main St.

The charges were filed by Coal Township Patrolman Edward Purcell.

Bryant, who was escorted to and from his arraignment by Detective Jeff Brennan, remained silent during the brief legal proceeding while handcuffed. He was committed to Northumberland County Prison in Sunbury in lieu of $25,000 cash bail.

The defendant is accused of entering the residence through a rear window on the second floor while Vettenberg and her daughter were sleeping. He fled the scene after being discovered downstairs by Vettenberg, who was awakened by noise and went to investigate.

Vettenberg, who knows the defendant because he rides the same school bus as her daughter, told police she spotted Bryant leaving the home through a side entrance/exit. When questioned by police at his residence a short time after the burglary, Bryant initially denied doing anything wrong, but later admitted entering the residence. Bryant said he didn't know why he committed the burglary.

With Frank Schmidt in the front seat, and William and Dr. Mary Schmidt sitting in the back of a Ford Mustang convertible, the grandchildren of Max Schmidt, co-founder of the Fuhrmann and Schmidt Brewing Company, traveled the route of the Anthracite Heritage Parade as grand marshals, waving to everyone they saw, handing out candy to youngsters and exuding happiness.

"This is wonderful and it feels good to be back in Shamokin," William said before Friday's parade.

Friday's event was the seventh annual edition of the parade that kicks off the weekend's festivities of the Anthracite Heritage Festival of the Arts.

'Bring any beer?'

While they waited for the start of the parade, the Schmidts greeted well-wishers who welcomed them back to the area. State Rep. Kurt Masser even asked the trio for their autographs on an old "Scenes from Shamokin" book for a friend.

"These are rare," Frank said when he signed the book, looking at the picture of his grandfather printed inside.

Some joked about the family's heritage when they said hello to the grand marshals.

"Did you bring any beer with you?" one person asked.

"We tried to get some F&S, but we just couldn't find any," Frank joked.

All three family members grew up locally and graduated from Shamokin Area High School, but have since moved away. Frank, after being the assistant brew master of the family brewery, became the founder and CEO of Broaker Enterprises LLC.

William recently served as the head of global marketing for the card business of Gemplus International SA, while Mary is the president of the Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Va.

Mary said she visits the area regularly, but William said it's been about 13 years since he's been back.

All were amazed that people in the area still remember the F&S brand fondly.

"I think the recognition of the F&S name in the community is greater today than it was back then," William said.

'Fantastic day'

The family was honored to be the parade's grand marshals and are looking forward to today's festivities.

"It's going to be a fantastic day and the event has so much to offer and we are going to take advantage of it," Frank said.

The siblings plan to visit the Shamokin Cemetery and the grave of their grandfather before seeing the elder Schmidt portrayed as part of the festival's cemetery tour.

"That's the exciting part for me," Mary said. "I never met my grandfather, so that will be a real treat."

Following the parade, the trio said they appreciated the support from the former employees and patrons of the F&S Brewery.

"I wish I could invite everyone to a big beer hall for some F&S tonight," Frank said.

Santa Claus at home

With a temperature of 48 degrees with gusty winds and occasional drizzle at the time of the parade's start, Santa Claus riding a float presented by the Shamokin Rotary Club, felt right at home.

"I wanted to bring a little cold weather with me," Santa said. "Feels a little like Christmas."

While there were more hoodies than shorts at Friday's parade, the crowd, a little thinner as usual, was just as enthusiastic as in past years, watching the floats, marchers and bands go by.

More than 40 groups participated in the parade, including the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area, Shamokin-Coal Township Little League, political candidates and emergency vehicles.

Winners

Best Representation of the area - Brady Fire Company

Most Creative/Decorative - Knoebels Amusement Resort

Best Dressed/Costumed - Northwestern Academy

Best of Show - Shamokin Area High School Band.

Due to the wind and rain, the festival's annual luminaria ceremony did not take place, but festival chairperson Jeanne Shaffer said the names of those for whom luminarias were purchased will be printed in The News-Item.

Today's activities begin at 9 a.m. with a 5K at Kemp Memorial Stadium. At 10 a.m., the Cameron Colliery Whistle will blow on Market Street. The festival continues through 5 p.m.