Standard-Speaker from Hazleton, Pennsylvania • Page 5

Hazleton Standard-Speaker, Monday, January 12, 1998 I Polidora picked for Presidential Classroom Albino boa visits city hall office When Hazleton health officer Mark ThomDson trot to his mtv hall office early Friday afternoon, he got sssssome sssssurprise a young albino boa constrictor stuffed in a hemp bag. I "I tried to contact the man possibly a young man who left the bag containing the snake hanging on the doorknob of my office," Thompson said. "There was a note taped to the window of the door, written on plain paper and written legibly. The note reported that he'd found the snake on the Stockton Road, between Stockton No. 7 and Hazlebrook.

It also contained the number of the man who found the snake. "These snakes are illegal in the limits of the city, and we'd like to find the owner Thompson said Hazleton's former snake handler, Rich Macuch, moved to Texas in the fall. "He was training an individual, Lee Rosato, of Conyngham, but when I contacted him he said he had not received the full training and, in other words, he can't help me out," Thompson said. The snake was the sole occupant of Thompson's office Friday night. Thompson asked the snake's owner, or anyone with information on who that is, to call the health department at 459-4980 or police at 459-4940, "the sooner the better." small-group workshops on today's hottest science and technology issues, visits to monuments and museums, a night at the theater and a commencement celebration.

Since 1969, Presidential Classroom has provided more than 74,000 of America's finest students with unprecedented access to Washington's halls of power and the people shaping public policy. Alumni have gone on to be leaders in their communities and many, like U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, Texas, and U.S. Sen.

Robert Torricelli, N.J., have returned to Washington as public servants. Presidential Classroom also offers the PC Scholars Program, the Business, Labor and Public Policy Program and the Future World Leaders Summit. To participate students must be juniors or seniors in high school, have a average or higher or rank in the top 25 percent of their class. They must show commitment to their community or school involvement through participation in extracurricular activities. Chris Polidora, a Bishop Hafey High School junior, has been selected as a participant in the Presidential Classroom's Science, Technology and Public Policy Program in Washington, D.C CI 1 yt'f V-r A iff i f-jzs All i 1 WO I 1 1 mwmtmmimmtcrm iiiiiiiih-ii'iBifl i w.nr.wimn ummmmmmmmmi LmimmmnhX "lt Muu KtJ'U IRllW STUDENTS DONATE The Kiwanis Builders Club and the students of Valley Elementary School have been collecting food for the Valley Food Pantry, a non-profit group that helps needy families.

The Valley Elementary School Builders Club is coordinating the food collection as a community service project for the 1997-98 school year. Many area families receive help from the food pantry. Anyone interested in donating non-perishable items this school year can deliver them to Valley Elementary School or Conyngham United Church of Christ, where the food pantry is. Builders Club members who helped with the project are, from left, Eric Burger, Kim Dodson and Beth Keck. SLAVONIAN OFFICERS Officers of the Educational Circle of United Slavonians were installed during the January meeting.

Seated from left are Harry Reimold, secretary; Raymond M. Yurista president; Ann Yurista, steward, and Mike Drost, director. Standing are Rodney Yurista, treasurer; John J. Mandzak, director; Peter Lamont, director; Robert A. Klinetop, director, and Eddie VV.

Adams, vice president. Joseph Leshko is also a director. Spirit Christmas programs held Bishop Hafey High School junior Christopher Polidora will travel to Washington, D.C., Feb. 7-14 to participate in the Presidential Classroom's Science, Technology and Public Policy Program. He is the son of Dr.

Frank and MaryAnn Polidora of Drums. The program gives scholars a first-hand look at the political responses to change brought by scientific advances. Students examine topics such as environmental quality, space exploration, disease control and telecommunications. Joining hundreds of high school students from across the country and abroad, Polidora will take part in seminars presented by leaders representing each branch of government, the military, media and lobbying organizations. Students are also scheduled for a private tour of the White House and appointments with their senators' and representatives' offices.

On-site tours and seminars are planned as well. In recent years, these have included visits to the National Security Agency, National Institutes of Health, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Defense University. The balance of the week in Washington will be filled with TOPS 837 meets TOPS Chapter 837, West Hazleton, met Wednesday. Peggy Hirko was "Best Loser." The "Have to Have Food" is carrots, and the "Forbidden Food" is chocolate. Co-leader Mary Ann Fisher told the group about the new contest that begins Wednesday.

"Count the Pounds Away" requires that everyone participating bring one gift. The contest runs six weeks, finishing in a style similar to a Chinese auction. The weekly prize was won by Fran Sissick. Leader Joan Volciak requested that members be present before 6:30 p.m. to be weighed.

The meeting begins at 6:30 promptly. The group decided on a date for the semi-annual awards dinner. Members will meet at Bonanza Steakhouse on Jan. 28. Police Butler police probe hit-ana-run accident Butler Township police are investigating a hit-and-run that happened late Friday or early Saturday.

According to police, the incident happened at Merchants Bank of Pennsylvania at Rit-tenhouse Place along Route 309 in Drums. A vehicle hit the bank causing moderate structural damage. Anyone with information is asked to call the Butler Township Police at 788-3230. Two cars damaged after hit-and-run State police in Frackville are investigating a hit-and-run that happened Saturday. According to police, a car was turning from Line Street west onto Ogden Street and hit two parked cars at about 4 a.m.

Police said that a 1981 Ford F-150 which sustained moderate damage and a 1986 Chevy Blazer that sustained minor damage are owned by John Martofel of Girardville. Anyone with information is asked to contact state police at 874-0207. Two hurt Saturday in Rice Twp. crash A Wapwallopen woman received minor injuries after her car skidded on ice Saturday. According to state police in Hazleton, Sharon M.

Segeda, 38, of R.R. 1 Box 267D, was traveling west on Church Road in Rice Township when her 1997 Jeep crashed at 11 p.m. about 200 to 250 feet west of Nuangola Road. Police said she was going too fast, and her Jeep spun across the eastbound lane. Police said Segeda tried to regain control and ended up spinning back across the westbound lane.

The Jeep traveled up a small bank and went 72 feet along the north side of the road before it hit a tree. Both airbags opened, causing minor face and throat injuries to Segeda's passenger, Kelly Ann Segeda, 11. Segeda also had minor injuries, police said. Neither was wearing seatbelts. Units from the Rice Township Fire and Ambulance Co.

and the Mountaintop Area Fire and Ambulance helped at the scene. Students of the month at Bishop Hafey Junior High School are David Santarclli and Alex Ferrello. Hafey Junior High School names students of month Students enrolled in Holy Spirit Academy's preschool and elementary school presented their Christmas programs Dec. 16 and 17. Faculty members and staff involved were Principal Alice Flynn, Rose Lee Bednarz, Lori Pursell, Mary Theresa Dougherty, Lori Horvath, Jean Fadule, Michele Jazowski, Sr.

Michael Jean, Sharon Pedri, Diane Schellhamer, Ann Marie DiLiberto, Toni Titus, Linda Kistler, Rosemarie Garramone, Stan Pavlick, Sr. Pauline, Rosemary Moore, Lori Curran, Kelly Carr, Mary Lou Blahosky, Joanne Ilornick, Mary Laman-na, Jane Lagowy, Carol Levan-dowski and Denise Gogola. Students participating were: Lori Pursell's preschool class Michael Bower, Maria Chirico, Joanna Cudwadie, Timothy Gogola, Emily Heller, John "J.J." LaRose, Ryan Mariano, Tiara Magarosky, Brian Quigley, Matthew Seamon, Allyson Smith, Richard Wech and Kelsey Yevak. Rose Lee Bednarz's preschool morning class Kristina Adam-chak, Bryanna Ator, Haley Baran, Carmelina Cafaro, Tyler Evans, Nicholas Inverso, Katelyn Kadelak, Gabrielle Leshko, Jeffrey Martoccio, Tyler Panzarella, Megan Parrell, Shital Patel and Anthony Tihahsky. Rose Lee Bednarz's preschool afternoon class Shawn Cauley, Bethany Chivinski, Alexis Keegan, Chelsea Ksanznak, Danielle Lisnock, Edward Miller, Kayle Smith, Jayme Tillett and Christopher Villano.

Mary Theresa Dougherty's kindergarten students Brian Andersen, Angela Bellezza, Alexander Burger, Anthony Carrato, Andrew Chivinski, Nina Curran, Matthew Downey, Regina Dutz, Marc Evancho, Kathryn Evancho, Elizabeth Ferrari, Caitlin Ferry, Thomas Gottstein, Katie Laputka, Joshua Lentz, Elizabeth Maggio, Scott McCann, Daniel Myers, Zachary Natt, Giovanni Provan-zo, Nichole Spevak, Kandice Tanner, Joshua Tillett, Courtney Tychinski, Lauren Veneri, Kyle Wagner and John Ross Walton. Lori Horvath's kindergarten students Alexander Chacinski, Zachary Dragicevich, Kevin Fox, Roberto Giunta, Michael Mar-chese, Kyle Mellon, Andre Minucci, Vu Le Nguyen, Anthony Nicholas, Joseph Parrell, Vincent Susi, Joshua Sweet, Mark Uliano, Michael Volciak, John Willis, Brooke Caputo, Maria Corrado, Alyssa Keegan, Megan Kistler, Cassandra Klocek, Shayna Ksanznak, Paige Kulsa, Nicole Lisnock, Maria Marchese, Catherine Martoccio, Sara Oberto and Chelsea Viechec. First-grade students signed to Christmas classics. Michele Jazowski's first-grade students Matthew Barrett, Joshua Billman, Gianmarco Cafaro, Angela Carrato, Nicholas Carsia, Robert Cauley, Sara Fletcher, Veronica Garrett, Bernard Garzio, Kyrie Gombert, Brennan Lagan, Angelo Larocca, Kaitlyn Leshko, Brittany Lom-bardi, Nicole Malega, Alexander Matsko-Ensel, Grant Rowlands, Lauren Seamon, Amanda Shott, Brittany Torres and Natalie Vito. Jean Fadule's first-grade students Megan Andersen, John Bachman, Todd Balas, Kaitlyn Breslin, Rachael Carr, Daniel Cudwadie, Brittany Dubrawsky, James Formica, Nickolene Gerenza, Alison Gimbi, Zachary Harker, Justin Horvath, Tiffany Huttenstine, John Keegan, Gillian Malloy, Anthony Mar-sicano, Samantha Maylath, William Morse, Angela Mussoline, Robin Payne, Matthew Quinn, Alan Rebarchick and Michael Warnitsky.

The second-graders performed in various languages. Sr. Michael Jean's second-grade students Michael Balas, Lauren Baran, Joshua Brotz-man, Olivia Bruno, Anthony Calvello, Francis Curran, Joseph Downey, Lucia Dutz, Matthew Evans, Michael Hor-nick, Kimberly Janiga, Erin McElhenny, Danielle Oravec, Megha Patel, Meggan Remenar, Matthew Rimbey, Jillian Seamon, Tev Simmons, Robert Terracino and Ivori Zvorsky. Sharon Pedri's second-grade students Nicholas Barnes, Collin Bender, Ashley Bredbenner, Robert Caccese, Michael Elias, Christopher Fadule, Joseph Fanning, Billy Gallagher, Justin Horinko, Steven Hornick, Nicole Kiefer, Tyler Kowalczyk, Vincent Lalicata, Ashley Marinock, Tyler Marsilio, Michael Martin, Anne McAndrew, Jonathan Ostrosky, Andrew Shott, Sarah Tihansky, David Villano, Samantha Volicak, Kristopher Wheelis and Elizabeth Yale. Diane Schellhamer's third-grade students Michael Bab-bish, Meghan Bell, Christopher Binder, Matthew Bersavage, Blaise Caputo, Caleigh Con-ahan, Alison Conlin, Anthony DiSabella, Rebecca DiSabella, Gabrielle Dutz, Ginger Galade, Kaitlyn Hopeck, Alicia Jevit, Megan Kapuschinsky, Haley Lentz, Zachary Martini, Jeremy Medash, Rae Lynn Molinaro, Daniel Mumie, Sara Beth Parsons, Joseph Provanzo, Ashley Ragan, Muriel Skuba, Ryan Tombasco, Raymond Tulanowski and Lori Ann Zubris.

Ann Marie DiLiberto's fourth-grade students Ronald Bab-bish, Travis Bender, Alexandra Blahosky, Maxon Bruno, Neil Ciotola, Melissa Coladonato, Frank D'Angelo, James DiSabella, Geneva Evancho, George Fanning, Lauren Fisher, Patrick Gallagher, Kaitlyn Hayes, Patrick Lagan, Rosellen Marchese, Justin Murphy, Anthony Palermo, Nicholas Pet-role, Jonathan Pierotti, Amanda Schellhamer, Joseph Sweet, Nicholas Tarone, Amanda Viechec and Dominic Yale. 1 Toni Titus's fourth-grade stu-' dents John Beltrami, Capparell, Paul CapparellJ Christopher Carsia, Travis; Dolan, Joseph Evancho, T'reseJ Evancho, Joshua Christopher Johnson, Brandon; Kowalczyk, Steven Kowalski.j Sarah Lagana, Vincent Mainiero, Megan Nicholas Pupko, Nadine Rebar- chick, Nicole Stemko, Timothy! Trently, Ryan Tychinski, AlysiaJ Uliano, Josue Velez, Angela VitoJ and Christopher Ward. Linda Kistler's fifth-gradej students Nicholas Bellezza, Bridget Boyle, Gina Carsia, Kristina Coll, Eric DeAngelo, Angela Dorse, MichaelJ Dougherty, Christopher Anthony Fadule, Mary KateJ Farley, Rachel Fenkner, Rachel Fletcher, Joseph Gombeda.J Lindsay Gugliemini, Brandon Horlacher, Joseph Hornick, An- drew Horvath, Michael Hydock, Allison Jacobs, Jamie John Malega, Kasey Dalia Matos, Evan Maurer.J Lawrence Mumie, Tan Nguyen, Tung Nguyen, Brandon Gabrielle Torres, and Lauren Vito. Rosemarie Garramone's six- th-grade students Kelly Alex-" ander, Davie Baxter, Melissa! Bonomo, Megan Caputo, Nina," Ciarla, Dena DeJoseph, Dennis; Evans, Jonathan Kayleigh Gallagher, Amanda-Hopeck, Marc Horinko, Thomas-Hornick, Richard Ashley Kelly, Raymond Kowalski, Lindsey Krieger, James McAndrew," -Salvadore Merola, Loc John Sheppard, Andrew Skuba, James Stec, Tara Synoraski, Kayla Trently, Marisol Velez, Kevin Vito, John Wezner and Kayleen Wright. boys' basketball team.

In addition, he serves as an acolyte in his parish. His hobbies include golfing, running, reading and working on the computer. Saving farmland is meeting topic Based on the attendance and response of farmers at the Nov. 17 agricultural land preservation meeting at the Luzerne County Community College, ag prevention is an issue that is very much on their minds. Ray Pickering, director of the Bureau of Farmland Protection in Harrisburg, spoke to over 50 landowners, farmers, and local, county, and state agency representatives.

Pickering said that because of the sharp drop in farm acreage in Pennsylvania in the 1980s, the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program was created. The program enables state and county governments to purchase easements from owners of prime farmland. After a brief explanation of the program regulations, Pickering answered questions. Luzerne County is one of few counties in the eastern part of the state that does not participate. Plans are to approach the county commissioners soon in the hopes of adopting the program.

For more information contact Donna Grey at Penn State Cooperative Extension at 825-1701, Pam Fedak at the Farm Service Agency at 779-0732, or Linda Thoma at the Back Mountain Regional Land Trust at 675-2274. David Santarelli and Alex Ferrello, students at Bishop Hafey Junior High School, were named students of the month for December. Students are selected by the Bishop Hafey Junior High faculty and administration to recognize and emphasize the positive attributes of members of the junior high school community. The award is granted to one seventh-grade student and one eighth-grader. Award recipients reflect the solid Christian values such as honesty, morality, generosity, kindness, and compassion.

In addition, the students should be models of the spirit of Bishop Hafey Junior High School for other students by their participation in school and community activities. Santarelli, son of Paul and Karen Santarelli of Sugarloaf, is enrolled in the seventh-grade honors curriculum. He is a member of St. John Bosco Parish in Conyngham. He is on the seventh-grade boys' basketball team.

He also is an acolyte at his parish and is a member of Troop 207 of the Boy Scouts of America. His hobbies include playing sports, playing video games, surfing the Internet, camping and hiking. Ferrello, son of Lou and Maria Ferrello of Sugarloaf, is in the eighth-grade accelerated curriculum. He is a member of St. John Bosco Parish in Conyngham.

He is treasurer of the Junior High Student Council and an active member of the National Junior Honor Society, cross country team and eighth-grade.