Standard-Speaker from Hazleton, Pennsylvania • Page 5

Police Hazleton Standard-Speaker, Monday, January 4, 1999 5 Eastern Catholics celebrate Feast of Theophany Wed. PIS! ixiw'h NEW OWLS OFFICERS New officers of the Hazleton Owls Club for 1999 are, from left, seated, Jack Majchrowicz, a post he has held for 23 years; Gerald Tranguch, president; Edward Lutsky, vice president; and Bernard Lesh, financial secretary; Standing, Dusty LaMonica, sergeant-at-arms; John Rapach, recording secretary; Bernie Novak trustee; Tom Horvath, a 40-year member, trustee; Joseph Kuchar, trustee; and Frank Shelby, trustee. ther-Son-Spirit, in" one, and unique substance of one Godhead. On this feast, all creation witnesses the Essence of God, who is Trinity. In celebration of this feast, the churches of the East bless water, which they call Jordan Water.

The priest or bishop at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy goes to the place where the water is to be blessed. In Ukraine and other places this blessing actually took place at a river or lake or spring. In the U.S., this blessing usually takes place at the church, where a large basin of water is set up. After a series of lengthy prayers and petitionary prayers, the priest takes three lighted special three-branched candles and immerses them into the water. Then he exhales his breath upon the water three times in the form of a cross, and then immerses his hand into the water, tracing a cross upon the water three times.

Finally, he plunges a cross into the water and then immediately elevates the cross out of the water for all to see. This symbolizes that the water is no longer a source of death and evil, as was believed by the ancients, but that now almighty God has entered into the waters, sanctifying them and making them a source of life, health, deliverance from evil, and salvation through baptism, because God the Trinity has touched and now dwells in the water. At the conclusion of the sanc-tiflcation of the waters, the priest takes the water and blesses the entire church structure and its congregation. He also drinks from the living water, as does the congregation. It is customary for the people to take this water home with them and to prepare a meal with it and to keep it in their homes all year long for blessing themselves and to keep the evil one away.

It is also customary that the priest visits all of the homes of his parish to bless and sanctify the homes of his congregation during this time. The priest is received by the head of the household and then is led around the house with a candle as he prays and sprinkles the home with the Jordan Water. Or a FIRST PRIORITY HEALTH The Provider Relations Department of First Priority Health, a subsidiary of Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania, recently held an appreciation lunch for the office staffs of the primary care physicians in its provider network in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties. The luncheon program included a career and holiday fashion show provided by the Gail Barbrie Modeling Co. Members of the Provider Relations Department are, first row, from left, Lorraine Haddock, Gail Barbrie, Barbrie Modeling Odette Ashby, Amy Yuhas, Cheryl Hashagen, and Dave Levenoskie.

Second row are Jeff Priebe, Jennifer Deeb, John Marturano, Kendra Scaz, Lenny Trolio, and Jeanne Pizano. Mountain gorillas survive, surrounded by rebel fighting McAdoo man cited after car accident Hazleton police cited a McAdoo man after a two-car accident on Dec. 30. According to police, a 1993 Ford Explorer driven by Jason Norris, 22, of 116 Bayview McAdoo, collided with a 1996 Jeep Cherokee driven by Michael Lombargo, 29, of 147 Kiefer Hazleton at the intersection of Lee Court and Magnolia Street at 1:38 p.m. After the two car collided, the Jeep then hit a garage at 121 W.

Magnolia police said. The garage is owned by Lee Dotter of 141 N. Laurel St. Lombargo's passenger, Jenny Davidick, of 663 N. Locust Hazleton, was taken to St.

Joseph Medical Center. His other passenger, Mary Lombargo, of 147 Kiefer complained of pain and said that she would seek her own medical attention, police said. Norris was issued a traffic citation for emerging from alley, driveway, or building. City man cited for drunkenness A Hazleton man was issued a citation for public drunkenness following an incident Saturday. According to Hazleton police, John Farley, of 136 S.

Cedar Hazleton, was found intoxicated in the area of Beech Street and Fulton Court at 2:20 a.m. Police look for missing area man Hazleton police are looking for a man reported missing Saturday. According to police, Kevin Dale Adams, 34, of 589 W. Maple Hazleton, was last seen on Dec. 29 at 2:30 p.m.

Cynthia Kantner reported him missing to the police. He was last seen leaving his home at 589 Maple St. and he was wearing a black leather jacket with white paint on the back of it, police said. He also was wearing a blue baseball cap, blue jeans and black work boots. Adams is blind in his left eye and has multiple tatoos, police said.

He has a beard and has brown eyes and brown hair. Adams is five feet eight inches tall and weighs 120 pounds. Police said that Adams is nrone to seizures and usually carries his medicine with him. Anyone with information on Adams is asked to contact Hazleton police at 459-4940. Robert Stephen Malak Fugitive sought Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest of Robert Stephen Malak.

Malak is wanted by the Pen-nsylvania State Police, Tunkhannock, Wyoming County, for attempted homicide and aggravated assault. The incident took place at Malak's residence located in Northmoreland Township, Wyoming County, on Nov. 24, 1996. Malak is alleged to have stabbed his spouse in the upper left arm with a lock-blade knife, thrown her to the ground, and continued the assault. Family members were able to intervene and stop the attack; Malak fled the residence and has not been seen since the attack.

Robert Malak is described as a 43-year-old white male who stands 5-feet, 5-inches tall and weighs approximately 170 pounds. He has a medium build with green eyes and was last -seen with long, blonde hair and la beard. His last known address Iwas Dallas, and he is known to frequent the Wilkes- Barre and Mountaintop areas. If you have information on "Fugitive of the Week" or 'any other serious crime or wanted person, call Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers toll-ifree at (800) 4PA-TIPS. Callers remain anonymous.

Ukrainian, Byzantine, and Melkite Catholics celebrate the Feast of the Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ on Wednesday in Eastern Catholic Churches throughout the region. This feast was originally celebrated in the churches of both the East and West since the fourth century. Now, only the Eastern Church maintains and celebrates this feast. The schedule for services is as follows: St. Michael's Ukrainian Catholic Church, Shenandoah On the Feast Day, Wednesday, at 8 a.m., Divine Liturgy and Blessing of Jordan Water; at 7 p.m., at St.

Michael's in Shenandoah, Divine Liturgy and Blessing of Jordan Water; blessing of homes begins Wednesday and Thursday. St. Nicholas Ukrainian Church, Mahanoy City Tuesday evening at 7 p.m., Divine Liturgy and Blessing of Jordan Water; Friday and Saturday Blessing of Homes. All Christians are invited to celebrate this great and beautiful feast day and to partake of the Jordan Water for 1999. The name of the feast is derived from the spiritual meaning of the feast.

The Gospel of St. Matthew says that as soon as Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water, and suddenly the heavens opened and He (John the Baptist) saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. And a voice spoke from heaven: "This is my Son, the Beloved, my favor rests on him." (Matthew Christ's being in the water to be baptized, the Father's calling Him His Beloved Son, and the Spirit's descent like a dove upon Him was for Christians of the East a supreme indication that our God is three persons, Fa- Mellow: Track bills on the Internet HARRISBURG Senate Democratic Leader Robert J. Mellow encouraged citizens to connect to the General Assembly's bill tracking computer system via the Internet. Mellow's involvement with the effort to provide online access to legislative data began in 1995 when he introduced a bill (SB 293) to give computer users the ability to view and print out the text, history and status of bills.

Mellow also reintroduced the bill (SB 472) in February 1997. The newly-created web site, found at www.legis.state.pa.us, allows anyone with online access to view the text, status and history of all bills pending before the General Assembly. The site can also be accessed through Mellow's web site at www.senator-mellow.com. "Prior to the creation of this new web site, Pennsylvania was one of just a dozen states that did not provide some form of public online access to legislative data," Mellow said. "This is a positive step in the ongoing effort to make state government more open and accountable to the citizens of Pennsylvania.

LCB approves license transfers New licenses and license transfers were approved by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board for the period November 1998 for the following area businesses: Carbon County From Galgoci Enterprises 222 W. Patterson Lansford, to Big Al's Down Under operating at the same address; and C.A.S. Ta Rooster's Boat Yard, 251 Canal Lehighton, to S.A.E. Rooster's Boat yard, same address. A new license was issued to Ramblers Ranch HC1 Box 19, Jim Thorpe.

Luzerne County From Joseph Benderavich, Ta Bender's Cafe, 201 Ridge West Hazleton, to Bowl Arena 190 Susquehanna West Hazleton; and DeAngelo's Subs 'n' Suds 442 W. Broad Hazleton, to Biagio's Subs 'n' Suds same address. 0 Schuylkill County From Bushick's Cafe, 116-117 Park Place, Mahanoy City, to Tomas Corp. Brookside Restaurant and Pub, same address; and Cary Bryan Bates, 1313 E. Broad Tamaqua, to Reilly's Beverage Cooler 401 S.

Lehigh Frackville. Fossey's original three groups. The following month they located the third group of 16, a bit smaller than when last counted in the 1980s. Two infants were among the groups. "It is surprising with the turmoil that the gorillas are still around and appear to be doing all right," said Dieter Steklis, the gorilla fund's chief scientist.

Cranfield, who returned from a two-week visit in early December, said he's hopeful the veterinary center can be reopened in the next few months. "Rwanda is much more settled and we were able to make it to the edge of the park," he said. The number of mountain gorillas left is in dispute. None live in captivity. About 300 are believed to live in parks in Rwanda, Congo and Uganda.

A second population of smaller gorillas with broader faces in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda could double that number depending upon whether they are mountain gorillas or a subspecies. Genetic testing indicates that the two gorilla groups are genetically the same, but scientists want more testing to determine whether the Bwindi gorillas, which live at lower altitudes, are truly mountain gorillas. The two groups are divided by a large swath of farmland in a broad valley in the volcanic mountain range. Normally, Cameron would expect to provide emergency veterinary care for at least two or three injured gorillas a year. But the call in October 1997 was a rare opportunity, in large part because rebel fighting prevents trackers and park guards from entering the forests.

"It's frustrating," he said. "We're just not getting the calls. No one is there to see and report." Rebel fighters aren't the only ones giving Cameron trouble. Sometimes it's the gorillas. After traveling for five hours, he found the young female gorilla and a silverback the name given to dominant males for the grey hairs down their backs.

Trackers formed a defensive line so Cameron and his assistant could begin their work, or so they thought. "He unfortunately moved through that defensive line and was looking for someone to take out his anger on. Unfortunately it was me," Cameron said. As the male gorilla sat on him, Cameron made guttural noises to calm him. After about five minutes, the silverback let him crawl away.

Cameron found the young female in thick underbrush. He clipped dead skin from where the snare had amputated the end of her toe, took blood, urine and stool samples, and gave her an antibiotic. He finished just as the silver-back broke through the underbrush, 10 feet away. "It came right down to the wire," Cameron said. If not for rebel fighting, Cameron said he probably could have saved a young male gorilla in Bwindi.

The youngster was malnourished and weakened by parasites and couldn't keep up when his group fled, probably after encountering another gorilla group. Cameron had to delay his departure for about 12 hours because it is not safe to travel at night. The gorilla died several hours before Cameron reached him. Things went better during Cranfield's visit when the team was called to help a young male gorilla in Uganda with a snare on its right hand. The group found the injured gorilla in dense bamboo among a group of eight gorillas, which included two silverbacks who twice charged the intruders.

The young gorilla was darted and the team got to work, cleaning the wound and administering an antibiotic. Even so, the gorilla will probably lose two fingers, Cranfield said. As part of their research, the project team of Cameron, his assistant, and two local veterinarians, is gathering data on the gorillas' vulnerability to human diseases. Since mountain gorillas and humans share about 97 percent of the same DNA, they get the same diseases, including polio and tuberculosis. Scientists want to know what diseases the gorillas are being exposed to and whether they are developing resistance.

The information will be used to develop a new protocol for tourist groups. Several mountain gorillas died in 1988 and 1990 of respiratory problems caused by human measles. By MARYPEMBERTON Associated Press BALTIMORE Kenneth Cameron got the emergency call after only a few months in Rwanda. A young female mountain gorilla had a snare around her ankle and was in danger of losing a foot, maybe her life. What he didn't know when he headed for the Congo forest was that she had a protector a 400-pound male gorilla who dealt with the human interloper by sitting on him.

"He came walking over, turned and sat on one leg, reached over my head and grabbed some leaves and ate for several minutes while he had me pinned," Cameron said. Cameron, an associate veterinarian at the Cincinnati Zoo, is in the midst of a two-year stint with the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project, which tries to monitor the health of the rare animals. Mike Cranfield, head veterinarian of the Baltimore Zoo, is the project's director. The gorilla project was established by the Denver-based Morris Animal Foundation in 1985, the year gorilla expert Dian Fossey was killed at her camp in Pare National des Volcans in Rwanda, where she studied the animals for 18 years and waged a personal war to protect them from poachers. For nearly a decade, scientists have been stymied in their efforts to help mountain gorillas because of ethnic fighting near their home a densely-forested volcanic mountain range at the borders of Rwanda, Uganda and the Congo.

Pare National des Volcans, where the gorillas live at elevations between 9,000 and 13,000 feet, has become so dangerous that Cameron has been unable to visit the project's veterinary center in the park in Kinigi since his arrival in June 1997. Fossey's camp, Karisoke, has been stripped of lumber and metal sheeting. Several times the project's center has been looted and destroyed. The military recently provided an escort for trackers with the Atlanta-based Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, another research group that collaborates with the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project, to count Fossey's gorillas. Trackers found 63 gorillas in September representing two of Home heating help available to some Gene Brady, executive director of the Commission on Economic Opportunity, said many people may be eligible to receive help from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

"CEO a people helping people agency operates the LIHEAP Crisis Program in Luzerne and Wyoming counties on behalf of the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. With the first cold snap of winter upon us, we may be able to help people who can't afford to heat their home or apartment. Nobody should go cold in this type of weather," Brady said. LIHEAP crisis assistance is available to pay for fuel for a household that is out of fuel or in imminent danger of being without fuel. It also provides emergency repairs to heating systems and pays for utility bills to restore or continue home heating service if the household is without heat or in danger of being without heat because of possible termination of the heat source by a utility.

'We're here to help people stay warm. If you're out of fuel, or will be soon and can't afford to re-fuel call us," Brady said. Certain income guidelines must be met. Brady stated that for households to qualify, no more than $8,855 may be earned in a one-person household; $11,935 for two persons; $15,015 for three persons; $18,095 for four persons; $21,175 for a five-person household; and $24,255 for six persons. For each additional person, add $3,080.

If people need help, they should contact CEO. In Luzerne County, call 826-0510 or toll-free, (800) 822-0359. People in the Greater Hazleton area may call 455-4994 and Wyoming County assistance is available at 836-4090. Off-hours accessibility is available through HELPLINE at 829-1341 or toll-free, 800-432-8007. Emergency assistance is available 24 hours a day..