Atomic energy, stress, Shakespeare, venereal disease, and abortion: all are included in the Focus Series at Penn State- Wilkes-Barre Campus during the winter term. All five programs are open to the public free of charge. Focus is the culture-lecture series at the Wilkes-Barre campus. The winter term series opens on Thursday, Dec. 6, at 11 a.m., with a lec- ture on ‘Atomic Energy: How Does It Work?’ by Dr. Thomas Winter, assistant professor of physics at the campus. The lecture will be given in the Hayfield House, the administration building at the campus. On Tuesday, Dec. 11, at 11 a.m, a 'lecture- discussion program on “Stress: How to Cope With It"’ will be given by William Simons, specialist in adult training from Penn State- University Park. = The program will be held in the Laboratory Building. On Thursday, Dec. 13, at 11 a.m., The National Shakespeare Theatre will present ‘Much Ado About Nothing." The play will be Chase. Pa. Wishes to thank all who assisted in anv tway’ during ‘their’ recent hereavement: Also those who sent Sn 395 20)y9) 49] FS 20] 9 presented in the laboratory building. On Tuesday, Jan. 15, at 11: a.m. "a ' lecture- discussion program on “*Venereal Disease’ will be presented by Tom Mangan of the Penn- sylvania Department of Health. The program will be held in the Hayfield House. And On Tuesday, Jan. 29, at 11 a.m. a lecture- discussion program on “Abortion: A Matter of Responsible Choice’ will be presented by Shawn Murphy, executive director of Planned Parenthood Association of Luzerne County. The program will be held in the Hayfield House. The board of directors of United Penn Cor- poration has declared a fourth quarter dividend of 30 cents per share, payable Jan. 4, 1980, to stockholders of record as a Dec. 14. The dividend was an- nounced by United Penn President ‘Robert L. Jones, who took the op- portunity to report that the third quarter earnings of the United Penn Cor- poration were the highest in the organization's history. The United Penn banking system now includes 25 offices, ser- ving a five-county area, with total assets well in excess of one-half billion dollars. ¥ a pg)20) oye ® 200s) 202] GOR] 2) 03) 0357 oY ©; (1a (1a (To (1a (] i; TOI ° °, ® Xi Zz re Cre 44 —— | SR WE SB 5:30 to 9:00 wl ‘State Capitol News FOLLOWING House passage of legislation to crack down on the illegal dumping of hazardous wastes, Speaker H. Jack Seltzer appointed a special committee to study ways of disposing of such material safely. Seltzer stressed that an absolute ban on dangerous chemicals was impossible and would be ‘tantamount to telling our plants to shut down, thus throwing hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians out of work.” AT THE urging of prosecutors and police, the House Judiciary Committee approved a measure that would permit the fingerprinting and photographing of juveniles charged with violent crimes. Law enforcement officials have argued that such a law is needed to speed criminal investigations and to insure that violent youthful of- fenders appear in court. THE HOUSE passed a bill that would protect un- witting property owners from having their real estate sold at auction because of unpaid taxes. The legislation would require tax claim bureaus to notify homeowners by certified mail at least 60 days before an auction, and would permit an owner to reclaim the property within 60 days after the sale upon payment of the taxes and a 10 percent penalty. COMMONWEALTH Court ruled unanimously that the state cannot force school districts to hold 180 days of classes each year or cut their subsidies if they refuse to do so. School officials have claimed that the 180-day rule worked to the advantage of striking teachers, who were assured of collecting their pay when a school district made up the lost days. The CD package ) by State Sen. Frank 0’Connell A five-bill package to allow townships, boroughs and cities to engage in community development projects will run-down areas without adding more government to the process, according to Sen. Frank J. O'Connell, R-20. The package was sent to the House after Senate ap- proval. The measures have the support of the Local “What this will do,” O'Connell said, ‘is give township commissioners, boroughcouncil members and members of towns councils and city councilmen of third class cities the power to act as a redevelopment authority would in larger cities.” This would include the power of eminent domain and the ability to convey property without competitive bidding in areas designated for community development or in the case of a blighted property, O'Connell said. “There are safeguards built into these bills to give residents opportunities to have their say, but withou creating a new governmental body,” he said. : All development must conform to municipal compre- hensive plans and public hearings must be held before any program gets under way, he added. Provisions must also be made for relocation of displaced persons in redevelopment areas. ; HIRING PREFERENCE-A bill to provide hiring preferences for persons 60 years old or older in admini- strative positions with aging programs has passed the Senate and gone to the House. This measure would apply only to polsitions that would not violate existing constitu- tional, contractual or civil service regulations. “There are two major advantages to this idea,” ac- cording to O'Connell, who is co-sponsor of the bill. ‘First, it provides opportunities for active retirees to continue to be useful and it provides someone with experience that can help make programs better than they would be otherwise.” HEATING SUBSIDY--A “bill signed by President Carter will provide an additional $71 million to the low income assistance program for heating cost increases, O’Connell said. The program, which will give money to households that are 125 percent of the poverty level, previously had $13.5 million to spend. “The details of this program were released earlier this month. Simply, if you want to know whether or not you are eligible, add $4,250 for the first member of your household to $1,375 for each additional member. Then, take your total household income and compare the two numbers. If your total income is less than the other figure, then you are eligible,” O'Connell said. Applications are available at all county Board of Assistance offices. Deadline is Dec. 31. Payments will be made directly to fuel suppliers in January. FALSE CLAIM LAW--A bill to tighten criminal penalties for filing or encouraging the filing of false claims for medical assistance payments has passed the Senate. The bill makes such claims a third degree felony (second offenses would be second degree felonies) and provides for repayment of funds, a fine of $2,000 and suspension from the program for three years. The provisions are contained in SB 1019. ‘‘this is important because too many people think that it’s alright to take a little on the side when the federal government is paying the freight. But that money comes out of all of our pockets. This kind of abuse must stop,” O’Connell said. NEW APPOINTMENTS--Gov. Thornburgh’s nominees toreplace former cabinet officers have been approved by the Senate. They are: William R. Davis, secretary of the commonwealth (former secretary of comimunity af- fairs); Charles J. Lieberth, secretary of labor and in- dustry, and Dr. J. Arnold Muller, secretary of health. The only remaining vacancy is in the department of community affairs. Cadettes hold progressive 19 AND dinner A ‘progressive din- ner’ was enjoyed by members of Cadette Girl Scout Troop .500 of Cen- termorelend last week, highlighted by a spaghetti dinner in the church social rooms. Arrangements for the dinner were in charge of Mrs. Ama DeGraw, Centermoreland Girl Scout leader, and her assistant, Mrs. Gloria Rought. They were assisted by mothers of the Girl Scouts. Enjoying the dinner were these members of the troop: Donna Rought, Andrea Paltrinieri, Sandy Canfield, Susank Dulsky, Laurie Engelman, Paula Knizer, Mary Montross, Susie Yale, Jennifer Klimas. oD ine | Sif » 1” on Fe Hi i
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers