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Scranton Neighbors Say Good Riddance to Daron Northeast

administrator — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:03:37 +0000

After almost six years of living next to Daron Northeast, Tom Prendergast knows to place the china securely toward the back of the cupboard.

When Daron’s trucks rumble by, the vibrations are enough to rattle the porcelain cups and dishes right to the edge of the shelf.

For Evann Xanthis, it’s the dust. The chalky, pervasive dust that coats everything and jams air conditioners.

Ms. Xanthis can’t remember the last time she opened a window. Being across the street from Daron is “like living in a catacomb,” she said.

For Daron and its neighbors in Lower Green Ridge, this winter is the beginning of the end for what was an uneasy relationship from the start.

In November 2007, the masonry and concrete company announced it would relocate its plants from Scranton and Ashley to an industrial park in Archbald, with production beginning there in February.

Winding down

As Daron readies to move, there has been less truck traffic, and dismantling began of its heavy machinery. The 16-acre property at 530 Electric St., a tax-free Keystone Opportunity Zone through 2010, is listed at $3.5 million by Hinerfeld Commercial Real Estate.

To residents, Daron’s departure is a relief, though bittersweet because it took so long.

Four lawsuits are pending against the company for the detrimental impact it allegedly had on residents’ lives, namely the dust, noise and traffic, which Daron denies. In 2005, the company paid a $3,700 fine to the state Department of Environmental Protection for air-quality violations.

Daron’s tenure in Scranton wasn’t rosy for the company, either. In 2007, it threatened to sue if city council banned trucks from Dickson Avenue. A few months later, it sued resident Daniel Hubbard and the Lower Green Ridge Neighborhood Association for slander.

Mr. Hubbard accused Daron of violating zoning law and causing “long-term lung damage.” The case was later discontinued, and Mr. Hubbard issued a public retraction as part of the settlement.

Repeated calls and visits to Daron in attempt to speak with general manager David Lewis about the move to Archbald were unsuccessful.

Breathing a sigh of relief

Daron’s presence has been maddening to perhaps no one more than Ms. Xanthis, who chokes back tears as she talks about her daughter’s breathing problems and the medical bills they have incurred.

After 20 years on Dickson Avenue, Ms. Xanthis is selling her home, though she would love to stay just long enough to see Daron leave first.

A block away on Sanderson Avenue, 20-year-old Katie O’Neil said Daron has been more of an annoyance than a bane, but she won’t miss needing to clean dust off the car and backyard deck.

Mr. Prendergast, one of the four residents suing Daron along with Ms. Xanthis, blames the city and believes officials could have better protected the neighborhood. He also worries about what will come in Daron’s place.

In recent weeks, council discussed rezoning the Daron property from light industrial, citing a DEP report that recommended such a change. But Dan Penetar, the zoning board solicitor, advised against that action, saying it would be illegal “spot zoning.”

Already, though, it is apparent the pall Daron cast on the neighborhood is lifting.

Look no further than Debbie Roth, who bought a house on Delaware Street in June. Ms. Roth said before her Realtor could convince her to move in, there was one thing she needed to hear — that Daron was moving out.

- Courtesy of The Times-Tribune

Harry Rothstein Participates in Ben Franklin Birthday Party

administrator — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 06:00:48 +0000

PLAINS TWP. – Not only is 2008 the University of Pennsylvania Alumni Club of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s 100th anniversary, making it the university’s oldest club in the world, but it also marks the 302nd birthday of Benjamin Franklin – a celebration the group holds yearly.

Although Franklin’s birthday was actually in January, the alumni group met Sunday at the East Mountain Inn to commemorate the day. Franklin is the founder of the university.

Each year, the alumni group picks a fun topic to celebrate. This year, the group chose “Ben and Me,” a book written by Robert Lawson in 1939, which tells a fictitious tale of how a mouse named Amos is really the one to be credited with all of Franklin’s great inventions.

Harry Rothstein, of Dallas, and a 1943 graduate of the university, played the part of Franklin, while Jeff Denis, of Clarks Summit, and a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania, portrayed Amos Mouse. Since Denis was one of the main characters, and is on spring break this week, the celebration was held Sunday so that he could participate.

“I’ve never portrayed a mouse before,” Denis said. “But I’m excited about it. It’s kind of neat.”

Denis, 19, who is majoring in engineering and business, said his favorite part of the “Ben and Me” story is that when the mouse first introduces himself to Franklin, the inventor doesn’t even seem a bit fazed that a mouse is talking to him. “He just starts talking to him like he’s a person,” he said.

During the luncheon, Tony Brooks, the alumni chairman for the June 2008 100th anniversary celebration, announced that he has been making progress in contacting descendants of the four original founders of the Northeastern Pennsylvania alumni club.

“We’re proud of the fact the class song was written by a Wilkes-Barre resident,” Brooks, of Wilkes-Barre, said. William John Goeckel, born in Wilkes-Barre, and an 1896 graduate of the university, composed music for the song, “The Red and Blue,” as well as two other university songs, “Memories” and “Houston Club March.”

Bill Runner, president of the alumni group, said that on June 1 a celebration will be held consisting of local alumni, visitors from the university and descendants of the club’s founders. The Northeastern Pennsylvania branch of the alumni club has about 2,500 members.

The alumni association is also responsible for interviewing potential freshmen at the school, easing their tensions about attending college, and talking about their past experiences at the Ivy-league school in Philadelphia.

“No Penn alumni club has done this before,” Runner said about telling the story of Amos and Franklin. Normally, he said, groups focus on actual events, which the NEPA club has done and will do in the future.

“But this just makes it more fun,” Runner said.

In the book and in Sunday’s performance, Amos Mouse credits himself for the Franklin Stove invention, as well as bifocals, the printing press and electricity. “It’s a fun thing,” said Rothstein, who wrote the script. “As I began writing it, I found it easy to come up with dialogue.

“Of course, it’s a true story,” Rothstein joked. “And Amos has passed away, so we can’t get verification (that it happened).”

-Courtesy of The Times Leader

Cognetti Helps Sell Dunmore Defense Plant Site

administrator — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 06:00:17 +0000

The site of a former manufacturing plant in Dunmore may turn into more housing for the community.

The former BAE Systems Specialty Defense System of PA Inc. building in Dunmore recently sold for $235,000 to 530 Sherwood Development LLC.

“Our plan is to develop residential townhouses for sale at the location,” said Jerry Ferrario, who is developing the property with brother Joe Ferrario and Mike Vacendak.

The developers are seeking borough approval to construct 16 units on the one-acre-plus property located at 530 Sherwood Ave.

Dunmore Borough Code Enforcement Officer Gene Walsh said the land development plans for the project are currently under review.

“Based on what I what I saw, it looks like a really nice-looking development,” he said.

John Cognetti, president of Hinerfeld Commercial Realty, was involved in the property transaction and said the developers’ plans “would be providing a type of housing that’s not (currently) available.”

If the land development plans are approved, the brothers say they will demolish any existing buildings on the property. Joe Ferrario said demolition would start soon “with approval and no unforeseen issues.”

Despite a rough economy, Mr. Cognetti said it wasn’t hard selling the property “because of the uniqueness of the product. Dunmore is a desirable place (to live) and there’s not a lot of land available to purchase.”

The brothers are also keeping the economy in mind when talking about the potential project’s timeline.

“We’re cognizant of the recent economy and based on that, we’re cognizant of the potential timing change that may be involved,” said Joe Ferrario.

-Courtesy of The Times-Tribune

Snack Food Firm Expands Holdings

administrator — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 06:00:30 +0000

MOOSIC, PA – A frozen snack foods manufacturer has acquired an adjacent building for $1.2 million for additional storage.

J&J Snack Foods Corp./MIA Products bought the 42,000-square-foot structure at 625 Rocky Glen Road for warehousing, MIA vice president and general manager T.J. Couzens said. MIA employs about 200 people.

The company will relocate storage operations from a leased site in Scranton to the Moosic building by April 1, Mr. Couzens said.

John Cognetti, president of Hinerfeld Commercial Realty, which represented seller Carl Touhey, of Albany, N.Y., said the structure was built in the early ’80s for Federal Express.

Its most recent tenants were DHL Express and Jack Williams Tire & Auto Service Centers.

-Courtesy of The Times-Tribune

Detter Leasing Keystone Commons Property

administrator — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 06:00:21 +0000

PLAINS TWP., PA – Keystone Commons should be more than an idea by next February.

Construction of the twin office buildings planned for high ground in the East Mountain Corporate Center is expected to begin by the end of this year, or sooner, said Chris Siegel, chief executive office of Ruckno Construction Co.

“That will be the tentative goal,” Siegel said Monday after he and Ernie McCabe, president of Ruckno’s commercial division, visited the site along Baltimore Drive.

The Luzerne builder is the construction manager of the estimated $12 million to $13 million project for owner Paul Francis Realty. The Commons sits on 8.3 acres and is comprised of two, 45,000-square-foot buildings, parking lots and a roadway system.

It’s taking multiple professionals to see the multi-component project through from concept to completion.

Siegel is responsible for marketing. McCabe has been doing the behind-the-scenes work of securing permits and guiding along the Commons. Kyle Kinsman of William Kinsman Lewis Architecture, Wilkes-Barre, designed the project. Mike Detter of Hinerfeld Commercial Real Estate, Scranton, is leasing space.

“They’ve got a lot of interest already,” Siegel said. The project has caught the attention of businesses looking to sign on as anchor tenants, he said.

The Commons has some very unique attributes, McCabe added. There are two opposing structures of very similar design linked by a pedestrian courtyard and the location literally elevates the project above other office buildings.

“A three-story building: you’re about 75 feet high. You could imagine the view,” McCabe said.

-Courtesy of The Times Leader