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Lenni Lenape

Olympics tracker: Keep up with New Jersey’s athletes at the 2021 Games in Tokyo

Looking to follow all of the athletes from New Jersey at the Olympic Games in Tokyo? Our USA TODAY Network team across the Garden State has you covered. 

Check back here throughout the Games for the latest updates, from softball’s first pitch on July 20 — three days before the Opening Ceremony — through the Closing Ceremony on Aug. 8.

Alexia Lacatena makes Sussex County history

It’s a moment that will forever go down in Sussex County history.

Stanhope native Alexia Lacatena became the county’s first athlete to compete in the Summer Olympics when she came on to pitch in relief for the Italian national team against the United States on the opening day of competition on Thursday at Fukushima Azuma Baseball Stadium in Fukushima, Japan.

The 18-year-old Lenape Valley High School graduate took the ball from starter Greta Cecchetti with runners on the corners and no outs in the top of the fifth inning with the Italian national team trailing the U.S. 1-0.

“Right now, the pride of Lenape Valley and the Patriots, having an Olympic moment as a teenager,” Beth Mowins said on the broadcast.

“Pretty special moment for the youngster,” Michele Smith added. 

Lacatena gave up a sacrifice fly, infield single and a walk in the fifth but got out of the jam and tossed a perfect sixth inning. The United States won the game, 2-0.

Lacatena, whose mother was born in Italy and whose father was born in New Jersey but grew up there, has been competing for the European side since she was 15. She was called up to the senior national team at 17, helping them win the European Championship earlier this month.

The Kentucky commit did not compete in her senior season for the Patriots this spring as she prepared to achieve her dream of competing in the Olympics. 

“Growing up, it’s always been that I’m…

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Munsee

NB mourns former police chief Merwin

NEW BETHLEHEM – “Jim was all about the betterment of the community. He was consistent and it was never about him.”

That’s how retired District Judge Dan George characterized former New Bethlehem Police Chief Jim Merwin who passed away on Wednesday, July 7 at the age of 83.

Merwin, who became police chief in 1987, is remembered as the one who restored integrity and professionalism to the then-struggling New Bethlehem Police Department.

When Merwin took the helm, the department was suffering from a series of scandals and investigations. Aware of the monumental task that lay ahead of him, Merwin reportedly said at the time that he would “work overtime to heal the force’s damaged reputation.”

According to George, who remembers well the disarray that plagued the department at the time, Merwin’s work and dedication to the community accomplished that.

“After three-and-a-half years of dealing with that mess, [Jim] was a breath of fresh air,” George said. “If I was picking the cream of the crop of all the local officers [I’ve worked with], Jim would be at the top of the list.”

Former New Bethlehem Borough Council member Ed Goth concurred, noting that Merwin was “very dedicated to the police department and New Bethlehem Borough.”

“He would work hours and hours outside of his normal time because he felt that it was the right thing to do,” Goth said. “He was very well-respected within the law enforcement community.”

Clarion County Sheriff and retired state police trooper Rex Munsee recounted several important cases — including a homicide, suicide, bank robbery, assault and more — that he worked with Chief Merwin.

“When you worked with Jim, he was just so down to earth,” Munsee said, noting that Merwin often conducted suspect interviews like a conversation. “He was a non-threatening police officer, and he listened to what people said.”

One of their more…

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Mohegan

Harry Styles Announces New Dates for U.S. Love On Tour Shows

Harry Styles surprised fans this week with the announcement of a huge batch of rescheduled concerts on his long-postponed Love On Tour run, planning 40 concerts for the United States in coming months. Of the 40 shows announced, 37 were rescheduled performances, with new dates added in Nashville, Uncasville Connecticut and Milwaukee.

“LOVE ON TOUR will be going out across the USA this September and I could not be more excited for these shows,” reads a post to the singer’s social media platforms. “As always, the well-being of my fans, band, and crew, is my top priority.”

Harry Styles will be joined by Jenny Lewis on the dates (with the exception of back-to-back nights at New York’s Madison Square Garden on October 30 and 31st). His tour resumes in Las Vegas on Saturday, September 4th, with shows running consistenly through November 20th. Along the way, Styles will perform in 21 states plus Washington D.C. New York  and California both see multiple dates, with Madison Square Garden scheduled for October 3rd and 4th as well as the pair of Halloween gigs later in the month. The Forum in Los Angeles sees three shows in four days (November 17, 19-20) to close the currently announced run, with earlier stops in Sacramento, San Jose, and San Diego also scheduled. Texas will also see three performances, with San Antonio, Dallas, and Houston all planned for September stops.

No dates outside of the United States have been announced, which the singer’s team addressed on social media.

“To everyone in the UK and across the world, I can’t wait to see you again, but for obvious reasons it is just not possible at this time,” wrote the singer, who is from England but has lived in the United States at least part-time for much…

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Nanticoke

Edward S. (Baran) Baranowski

Edward S. “Baran” Baranowski, 72, of Lake Silkworth and formerly of Nanticoke, passed into eternal life Saturday morning, July 17, 2021, in Residential Hospice, Inpatient Unit, Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre, following a courageous battle with cancer.

Born on Sept. 5, 1948, in Lehman, Edward was the son of the late Edward C. and Adeline Frankowski Baranowski.

Edward was a graduate of Nanticoke High School, Class of 1966.

A United States Army veteran, Edward honorably served his country for nearly three years during the Vietnam War, attaining the rank of specialist 4th class.

Prior to his retirement, Edward was employed as a driver for C.H. Briggs Hardware Company.

Edward was a member of the Nanticoke Fire Department’s Mowery Hose Company No. 3 and the Nanticoke Ambulance Association, running with Medic 301. Additionally, he was a member of the Lucky 14 Sportsman Club.

An avid outdoorsman, Edward enjoyed fishing, hunting and golfing. His granddaughter, Kaitlyn, was the light of his life, and he was proud of all her accomplishments. He was a great fan of Kaitlyn’s traveling softball team, The Rivercats, attending all her games to cheer her and her teammates on.

Edward is survived by his loving wife, Barbara Katra Baranowski, with whom he celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on July 10. Also surviving are his beloved daughter, Cheryl Brudnicki and her fiancé, Richard Bohan; his adoring granddaughter, Kaitlyn Brudnicki; his brothers, Richard Baranowski and his wife, Elaine, Nanticoke; and Anthony Baranowski and his wife, Michelle, Nanticoke; his sister, Debra Keener and her husband, Byron, Pittston; his faithful companion, Bella; as well as his nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

The Baranowski family wishes to extend their sincerest thanks to the PCU and ICU doctors and nurses from Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center for their compassionate care of Edward during his final days. They wish to also thank his oncologist…

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Mohegan

Casinos’ slot revenues were down year-over-year in June

Jul. 15—Casino slot-machine revenues were down significantly last month compared to the previous June, evidence that Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resorts Casino benefited from reopening ahead of their competition during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun opened June 1, 2020, after being closed for 11 weeks, other Northeast casinos remain shuttered.

Foxwoods reported Thursday it “won,” or kept, $29.4 million in slot revenue after paying out prizes, a 12.7% decline compared to the $33.6 million it kept in June 2020. Mohegan Sun kept $40.9 million last month, a 10% drop from the $45.5 million it kept the same month last year.

“If you look at last June, it’s very difficult to compare,” said Jeff Hamilton, Mohegan Sun’s president and general manager. “We were just coming out of the worst of the pandemic and nothing else was open. Market conditions were very, very different than this June.”

Prior to June, Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun had notched three straight months of slot-revenue increases, keeping $32.7 million and $44.9 million, respectively, in May.

“As for month over month, June historically doesn’t perform as well as May,” Hamilton said. “There’s so much going on in June — graduations, weddings, Father’s Day, barbecues … When we look at the quarter — April, May and June — we’re happy with our results.”

Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, which contribute 25% of their slots win to the state, anted up $7.3 million and $10.2 million, respectively, in June, the last month of the state’s 2021 fiscal year.

For the year, Foxwoods contributed $81.7 million, while Mohegan Sun contributed $118.5 million. The combined total of $200.3 million represents a 3.9% increase over the $192.7 million the casinos contributed in fiscal 2020.

In the pre-pandemic 2019 fiscal year, the casinos contributed $255.2 million.

Earlier this month, the Connecticut Lottery Corp. reported it contributed $418 million…

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Nanticoke

Mullery, House minority leader take factfinding tour of region

Jul. 17—NANTICOKE — State Rep. Gerald Mullery, D-Newport Township, this week welcomed House Minority Leader Joanna McClinton to Northeastern Pennsylvania as part of her fact-finding tour of communities throughout the state.

“I’m very grateful to spend time in the 119th District today and seeing firsthand how the Commonwealth’s investments are helping meet local needs and how additional support will bring about development to this important region,” said McClinton, D-Philadelphia.

McClinton visited the L.S. Bowl-A-Rama site in Nanticoke. The 122,000 square-foot structure running the entire length of East Washington Street between South Prospect and South Walnut streets has been vacant since 2007. Mullery said the former silk mill has been a longstanding eyesore in the community and, despite changing ownership on multiple occasions, has yet to be razed.

“We are on the verge of securing significant state funding to assist the city of Nanticoke in demolishing this eyesore,” Mullery said. “I wanted Leader McClinton to see the hurdles cities like Nanticoke face in acquiring and eliminating blighted properties so they could rehabilitate these sites and attract new developers who will contribute to the tax base.”

Nanticoke Mayor Kevin Coughlin said he was honored to host McClinton.

“This property has become the city’s responsibility at a cost of nearly $1.4 million to destroy,” Coughlin said. “We have worked with our state partners to acquire much needed grants. This particular property has become a public safety concern as debris has begun to fall onto the streets and sidewalks. We need the state’s assistance to help protect our citizens.”

Mullery and McClinton also visited Main Street in Glen Lyon. In 2016, the Economic Innovation Group reported Glen Lyon was the most distressed community in Pennsylvania. One key factor in their determination was that nearly one-third of Glen Lyon’s properties remained vacant. A significant portion of those properties are blighted, Mullery…

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Unami

SHERIFF’S SALE By virtue of an alias writ of execution

SHERIFF’S SALE By virtue of an alias writ of execution directed to the Sheriff of Atlantic County, issued out of the Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, Atlantic County, DOCKET NO.: F-014179-19 will be sold at public venue at,The Criminal Court Complex, 4997 Unami Blvd., Mays Landing, NJ 08330 on THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021, AT 12:00 O’CLOCK in the Criminal Court Complex, 4997 Unami Blvd., Mays Landing, NJ 08330. Property to be sold is located in the CITY OF PLEASANTVILLE, County of ATLANTIC, State of New Jersey PREMISES COMMONLY KNOWN AS: 24 EAST READING AVENUE, PLEASANT-VILLE, NJ 082324428 BEING KNOWN AS LOT 5, BLOCK 277 on the official Tax Map of the CITY of PLEASANTVILLE DIMENSIONS: 91.05FTX46FTX91.21FT X46FT NEAREST CROSS STREET: FRANIDIN AVENUE The concise legal description found in this advertisement does not consti-tute a full legal description of the premises, a full legal description of the premises can be found in the Office of The Sheriff of Atlantic County. The Sheriff hereby reserves the right to adjourn this sale without further notice by publication. *Subject to any unpaid taxes, municipal liens or other charges, and any such taxes, charges, liens, insurance premiums or other advances made by plaintiff prior to this sale. All interested parties are to conduct and rely upon their own inde-pendent investigation to ascertain whether or not any outstanding interest remain of record and/or have priority over the lien being foreclosed and, if so the current amount due thereon. “If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee or the Mortgagee’s attorney. Surplus Money: If after the sale and satisfaction of the mortgage debt including costs and…

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Mohegan

‘Comedy Night in Wilton’ scheduled for July 24

Now that businesses are fully reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic, CategoryTen, local restaurants, Cannon Grange, Shahan Islam of Wilton, and comedians are trying to bring back quality live entertainment with Comedy Night in the town at Cannon Grange https://cannongrange.org/ on Saturday, July 24, at 8 p.m.

The Cannon Grange is a location that was built in the 19th century and goes back to the time when granges were a part of life promoting farming and agriculture.

It is Wilton’s longest continuous organization. Today, the Grange focuses more on healthy growing and eating, gardening and community events, according to Shahan Islam.

For the comedy night, the price of admission includes food, and beverages donated by the Village Market in Wilton, Pinocchio Pizza, Italian food from Chef Bruno DiFabio, Hunan Cafe Chinese, and Japanese restaurant Connecticut, and the Bonani Indian Restaurant http://bonaninorwalk.com/.

CategoryTen, and the Village Market are also members of the Wilton Chamber of Commerce.

Hunan Cafe, and Pinocchio are Wilton restaurants, and Bonani Indian kitchen is by the Wilton-Norwalk border near Silvermine the neighborhood of Norwalk.

CategoryTen, and its signature COVIDopoly19 board game were started in Wilton.

Shahan Islam, and her family moved to Wilton about five years ago. Their youngest child has attended the Miller Driscoll elementary school, Cider Mill elementary school in the town and will attend the Middlebrook middle school in the fall.

“We love Wilton and the wonderful people in the community,” Shahan Islam said in an email.

When CategoryTen needed office space, Shahan Islam decided to use a location at the…

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Mohican

Ashland Soil & Water hosts crop modeling conservation chat

LAKEVILLE — Farming looks easy with your plow is a pencil and you’re a thousand miles away from a cornfield said President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and that same sentiment holds true today. But unlike the farmers in Eisenhower’s time, today’s farmers are able to use high-tech tools to help make their decision-making just a little bit easier.

That’s why Ashland Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is hosting the fifth of its new Conservation Chats field day events on Precise Solutions in cooperation with Holmes SWCD. The event will take place August 25 at Fairview Farms, outside of Lakeville at 12970 Township Road 474.

“In-season prevision modeling is a great tool for farmers to accurately manage and measure their nutrient applications and input,” said Erica White, Ashland SWCD technician and Jerome Fork watershed coordinator. “These tools are not only making our farmers more profitable by becoming more efficient with their inputs, but they are also making a significant impact to improve our water quality.”

To help make that transition, Ashland SWCD has offered 100 percent cost-share to producers in the Mohican River watershed for the last two years in a partnership with Sunrise Cooperative, Land O’Lakes/Winfield United, Yara International, Ohio Farm Bureau and the Caring for Our Watersheds student competition.

Earlier this year, West Holmes High School sophomore Garrett Houin won first place in Ohio’s Caring for Our Watersheds student competition, and by becoming a state finalist was able to bring cost-share dollars from the program directly to the Mohican River watershed to help implement modeling tools.

He worked hand-in-hand with White and Ashland SWCD staff to develop his proposal. In his research, Houin discovered that nutrient runoff from farm fields and bacteria from failing septic systems and livestock manure are the biggest threats to water quality in the main stem of the Mohican River…

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Nanticoke

Dropping the puck to face off against cancer in Luzerne County

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